252 SNAKES. 



1877, Large marine animal seen from the royal yacht Oshonie off Sicily. 



1879. Colonel Leathes, of Herring Fleet Hall, Yarmouth, informs Mr. F. 

 Buckland of sea serpents seen from the White Adder off Aden, and again off 

 New Guinea and the Cape. (See Land and Water^ Sept. 6, 1879.) 



In the above list we are struck by the fact that the coast 

 of Norway and the northern seas diirhig tJie Jcottest weatJicr 

 are the favourite playgrounds of these gigantic marine 

 animals, though as for the ' 600 ' feet, we must first be 

 assured of Norwegian measurement before forming any 

 estimate beyond that the creatures were doubtless of great 

 length. * Witnesses of unimpeachable character ' have pro- 

 duced so much trustworthy evidence as far as Norway is 

 concerned, that no doubt any longer exists there as to ' the ' 

 or a * marine animal ' of enormous length. * There is scarcely 

 a sailor who has not seen one,' it has been broadly stated ; 

 and Norwegians wonder that English naturalists are so 

 sceptical on the subject. 



Of still more marvellous proportions was the one seen off 

 the American coast in 18 19, and which is vaguely described 

 as from 80 to 250 yards ! That outdoes Norway altogether ; 

 but then, of course, an American sea serpent would exceed 

 all others. 



Next to the Norwegian, the American coast was at one 

 time so favoured by strange marine * monsters,' that they 

 were commonly reported as * the American sea serpent.' 

 Excepting these northern Atlantic visitants, others have 

 been observed mostly in the eastern seas, rarely in the 

 south. 



This has given rise to the question, * How is it that they 

 are seen almost exclusively in the north } ' One reason may 



