266 SNAKES. 



In reply, I was informed that the subject would not be 

 continued or * re-opened,' and my returned MS. is still before 

 me, much of it now for the first time being presented to the 

 public. To proceed with Dr. Wilson: — 



* The most important feature in my theory, . . . and that which really con- 

 stitutes the strong point of this explanation, is the probability of the development 

 of a huge or gigantic size of ordinary marine serpents. . . . 



* Is there anything more improbable, I ask, in the idea of a gigantic develop- 

 ment of an ordinary marine snake into a veritable giant of its race ; or, for that 

 matter, in the existence of distinct species of monster sea serpents, than in the 

 production of huge cuttle-fishes, which, until within the past few years, remained 

 unknown to the foremost pioneers of science ? In the idea of the gigantic de- 

 velopments of snakes or snake-like animals, be they fishes or reptiles, I hold we 

 have at least a feasible and rational explanation of the primary fact of the actual 

 existence of such organisms. ' 



In a most interesting lecture on 'Zoological Myths,' 

 delivered at St. George's Hall, January 2, 1881, Dr. Andrew 

 Wilson again laid much stress on the * gigantic de- 

 velopment of an ordinary marine snake into ' one of those 

 amazing individuals which, say, at the very least, are over a 

 hundred feet in length ! 



How long would the poison fang of such a reptile be } 

 How many ounces of venom would its glands contain ? Or 

 does the Dr. wish us to understand that as the vertebrae 

 of a Hydrophis has gradually developed into the complicated 

 structure of a constrictor, so has the poison-fang become 

 gradually obsolete t Appalling, indeed, would it be were 

 those enormous developments armed with poison-fangs ! 

 Monarchs of the deep they truly would be. Happily, 

 venomous serpents are restricted in their size ; but an 

 interesting speculation has been opened in the above theory 

 of abnormal development, and I trust it may be followed 

 up by abler reasoners than the present humble writer. 



