68 Transaclions of the 



a huge mane of seaweed-looking hair, which rose and fell with the 

 motion of the water ; the eyes were large and glaring, and by the 

 appearance of the water behind a vast body seemed to be be- 

 neath the waves. As the creature was coming "towards" our in- 

 formant, he was unable to judge of its length with the same accu- 

 racy as if it had been proceeding in a parallel direction ; but all 

 agreed that it was the most gigantic creature they had ever seen. 

 One of the ladies nearly fainted at the sight, and all had their 

 nerves considerably upset by the dreadful appearance of this ex- 

 traordinary creature ; its movements were apparently feeble, and 

 gave the idea of exhaustion as it slowly rose to the top of each 

 succeeding wave, raising its huge head above the surface as it did 

 so, and then as slowly sank into the trough between the waves. 

 The whole appearance lasted for some minutes, till at length the 

 creature sank in the sight of all about a gunshot from the shore, 

 and vanished in the same mysterious way that it had come ! ■" 



The clergyman here mentioned, Rev. John P. Brown, remarks 

 in a letter to me on the subject : — ' The head was very similar to 

 that of a horse, but the expression, if I may use such a term, was 

 that of a baboon, the hair coming out on the face, very thick and 

 matted on the neck.' 



The sea-serpent seems most probably to be very closely allied 

 to the ' plesiosaurus,' for that would, most likely, present such an 

 appearance when swimming as the numerous accounts describe. 



With regard to the mane, I think that it, like the human beard, 

 may belong to one sex only. 



That none of its remains have ever been found, even in Norway, 

 where it is most plentiful, is but natural, when we consider the 

 steep rock-bound coast of that country. 



Gosse, in speaking of this subject, says, ' In conclusion, I express 

 my own confident persuasion that there exists some oceanic animal 

 of immense proportions which has not yet been received into the 

 category of scientific zoology ; and my strong opinion is that it 

 possesses close affinities with the enaliosauria of the lias.' 



Much interesting information on this subject was added by 

 Messrs M. J. Barrington-Ward, Allen, and Eev. J. Greene. The 

 thanks of the meeting were given to M. J. Ward for his entertain- 

 ing paper. 



The President announced that the Committee had elected Pro- 

 fessor Lawson, Oxford, an Honorary Member. 



The monetary accounts of the Society were then read by the 

 Treasurer, and passed. 



