60 Mermaid o/'the Shetlmid Seas. 



many more species than those which have been hitherto de- 

 scribed ;" and there are two parts of the description given by 

 the fishermen, which, we think, render it highly probable that 

 theirs was a nondescript species. They state, that " on the 

 corner of each shoulder was placed a fin, of a round form, which, 

 when extended, covered both the breasts and the arms."" 



In regard to this striking fact they could not surely be mis- 

 taken. Again, they mention, that " there was between the nos- 

 trils a thing that appeared to be a piece of gristle, about nine 

 inches long, and which resembled a thick bristle. There was a 

 similar one on each side of the head, but not quite so long, 

 which the animal had the power of moving backwards and for- 

 wards, and could make to meet on the top of the skull .^ As 

 little on this point could they fall into mistake. It may be safe- 

 ly affirmed, that the structure here described could not be in- 

 vented by the fishermen, supposing them inclined to deceive. 

 It is too natural, and the description too graphic and circum- 

 stantial, to be a mere fiction ; while, it may be remarked, both 

 the round fin and the long feelers detract from the human re- 

 semblance which the Shetlanders were naturally inclined to trace 

 in the animal. 



Should another specimen happen to be captured in the Shet- 

 land Seas, it is confidently expected that it will not be lost ; for 

 we understand that not only are the North Yell fishermen now 

 ashamed of their superstitious fears, but that a bounty has been 

 offered to the first boat's crew who shall bring a similar animal 

 to Sir Arthur Nicolson. We conclude with suggesting, that if 

 such an occurrence should take place on any part of the coast, 

 the specimen should be placed in a barrel of spirits, and sent to 

 Edinburgh. From the able zoologists and comparative anato- 

 mists of that city, we would soon procure as accurate an account 

 of the structure, external and internal, of the mermaid of Shet- 

 land, as has been given by Sir Stamford Raffles and by Sir Eve- 

 rard Home (Phil. Trans. 1820), of the dugong, or mermaid of 

 Sumatra. 



