37 



diately on the report of the shot, a great splash was seen, and 

 some large beast started off iu the water from a point about 100 

 yards distant, dashing towards some rushes, and forming great 

 wave by his passage through the water. The rushes swayed about 

 violently as he passed through them, and one of the party who 

 had the opportunity of seeing the beast more distinctly than 

 the other, estimated the length at 5 or 6 feet, and the breadth 

 of back at nearly two feet. About one hour afterwards the 

 party saw, what they believed to be the same beast behind 

 the rushes and out in the lake, splashing up the water to a 

 height of ten or twelve feet ; this was noticed several times. 

 Enquiries made by Mr. Howe of persons in the neighborhood, 

 islicited no information beyond that loud roarings had been 

 heard at night. 



Mr. John Butler of Shene, Bagdad, informs me that when 

 on a visit to Lake Echo, in company with the E,ev. H. D. 

 Atkinson, some years back, they several times saw water 

 thrown eight or ten feet high in the air, without any obvious 

 cause ; this happened right out in the lake, and was considered 

 by them unaccountable. The only other information I have 

 is from Mr. Morton Allport, to the effect that some aquatic 

 beast, as big as a calf, was reported several times last summer 

 as being in the deep pools of the Jordan River. 



The evidence then shows that in the Great Lake, possibly 

 in Lake Echo, certainly in Lake Tiberias, some unusual 

 animals of large size have been seen at various times answer- 

 ing in general description to a seal, but not corresponding 

 with any species hitherto described. 



In regard to Mr. Headlam's estimate of the rate of speed 

 of the animal seen by him, and which might be considered an 

 exaggeration, I append an extract from a popular account of 

 seals contained in the " Museum of Animated Nature," at 

 page 222. 



" The common seal can remain under water for about five 

 minutes, and swims so rapidly that if alarmed, it will proceed 

 nearly half a mile during that period." 



While the description of the ursine seal " lowing like a 

 €alf," and of the sea elephant " in which the voice is deep, 

 hoarse, and terrific," may give the clue to the mysterious 

 sounds said to have been heard at night issuing from many 

 of the Victorian lakes, and notably, if my memory serves me 

 correctly, from Lake Werribee. 



Now even should the animals, whose existence seems proved 

 upon such good testimony, simply prove to be known seals, a 

 good and substantial foundation for the Bunyip story will 

 have been arrived at. The mysterious appearance and horrible 

 sounds will be fully accounted for, and a very interesting and 



