THE SEA SERPENT. 



209 



When it disappeared, its motion was undulatory, making 

 curves perpendicular to the surface of the water, and giving 

 the appearance of a long moving string of corks. 



The repeated accounts of the serpent's appearance having 

 attracted the attention of the Linnsean Society at Boston, one 

 of its members was deputed to visit the spot, and examine 

 into the truth of them. This was accordingly done, and the 

 above is the general substance of the various depositions 

 sworn to before General Humphreys. This gentleman, who 

 was a corresponding member of the Society, despatched to the 

 late Sir Joseph Banks copies of the whole of these, which are 

 still preserved in his library. Sir Joseph entered with warmth 

 into this curious investigation ; and the minuteness with which 

 every particular was supplied him showed how greatly he 

 felt interested in the question. 



In 1822, one of these creatures, the size of a large ox in 

 circumference, and about a fourth part of an English mile in 

 length, made its appearance off the island of Soroe, near 

 Finmark, and was seen by manv of the islanders.* 



SPECIES II. 



THE OPHIOGNATHUS AMPULLACENS, OR 

 BOTTLE-SHAPED SEA SERPENT. 



" A wondrous monster of the deep." 



This new marine serpentiform animal is the subject of an 

 interesting paper which was read before the Royal Society, 



* The Sea Serpent returned. — The Boston and New York Papers of 

 July 9, 1833, state that the Sea Serpent lias again appeared off Nahant. 



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