MONSTERS OF TROPICAL SEAS. 311 



islands, and who was a diligent observer of nature, 

 states that the natives affirm that some have been 

 seen two fathoms broad over their centre, and 

 each arm nine fathoms in length. It is also well 

 known that the Indians, when navigating their 

 little boats, are in great dread of those frightful 

 monsters, and always provide themselves with an 

 axe to cut off their arms, which if thrown across 

 their boats would place them in imminent danger. 

 The pearl divers too are said to be sometimes 

 seized by these monsters of the deep, from whose 

 grasp under such circumstances there is no release. 

 Possibly the account given by Mr. Pennant's friend 

 may have been exaggerated by the terrors of the 

 Indians who are his informants ; but besides the 

 general fact that the tropical seas nourish crea- 

 tures of far greater magnitude than those of 

 temperate latitudes, authentic instances are re- 

 corded in which the octopus has actually been 

 found of great size. During Cook's first voyage 

 the carcass of one was discovered floating in the 

 sea surrounded by aquatic birds which were feed- 

 ing upon it, and having examined the remains 

 of this animal, which were deposited in the 

 Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, Pro- 

 fessor Owen stated that its body must have been 

 four feet in length, and its arms at least three 

 feet more. There is therefore the highest proba- 

 bility that the tropical seas are inhabited by 

 monsters of far greater magnitude of the same 

 species. Dr. Shaw thus speaks on the subject: 

 " The existence of some enormously large species 

 x 4 



