2 50 SNAKES. 



from an Australian correspondent, regarding a * most re- 

 markable fish,' of nearly fifteen feet long, and eight inches in 

 diameter at the thickest part. It has 'no scales,' but 'a 

 skin like polished silver,' is of a tapering form, has a very- 

 queer mouth, a ' mane ' on the neck, and ' two feelers under 

 the chin, thirty-two inches long.' And this unsnake-like 

 thing was taken to the Mechanics' Institute of that town, 

 and unhesitatingly labelled ' Sea Serpent ! ' Dr. Buckland 

 suggested that it was a ribbon fish. 



Thus, we may repeat that it is almost impossible for an 

 unscientific person even to see^ far less to describe, unfamiliar 

 living forms in a manner that would prove sound data for 

 zoologists to decide upon. 



In a rather detailed communication to Land mid Water 

 on this subject, by Dr. Andrew Wilson, September 15, 

 1877, he also reminds us how easily and frequently we may 

 trace supposed resemblances to animals or faces, where none 

 can possibly exist ; as, for instance, ' in the gnarled trunks 

 and branches of trees.' Much more true resemblances to 

 serpentine forms are really seen at sea ; as, for example, 

 those ' floating trunks and roots of trees serving as a nucleus, 

 around which sea-weed has collected.' In one instance, 

 as Dr. Wilson relates, some such object, seen from the 

 deck of a yacht, was so deceptive even to intelligent men 

 who scrutinized it through the telescope, that the course of 

 the ship was changed on purpose to inspect it closely. 

 Dr. Wilson resfrets the unfortunate discredit which 

 has been cast upon all sea-serpent stories through such 

 erroneous observations, causing even the more trustworthy 

 accounts to be received with almost universal ridicule, and 



