112 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



is carried out of its ordinary latitude, and allow for slight 

 variations or inaccuracies in the accounts given by Captain 

 M'Quhae, and I think we have in these ideas the nearest 

 possible approach to a reasonable solution of this interesting 

 problem. 



It will be asked how I account for the apparent absence 

 of motion in the fore part of the body, and for the existence 

 of a dorsal or back fin. I may suggest, in reply, that the 

 simple movements of the laterally compressed tail, altogether 

 concealed beneath the surface, would serve to propel the 

 animal forward without causing the front portion of the body 

 to exhibit any great or apparent motion ; whilst the appear- 

 ance of a fin may possibly be explained on the presumption 

 that sea-weed may have become attached to the animal, or,, 

 that the upper ridge of the vertically compressed tail ex- 

 tended far forward and appeared as a fin-like structure. 



The most important feature in my theory, however, in 

 which I may be desired to lead evidence, and that which 

 really constitutes the strong point of this explanation, is the 

 probability of the development to a huge or gigantic size of 

 ordinary marine serpents. This point is one in support of 

 which zoology and physiology will offer strong and favour- 

 able testimony. There is no single fact, so far as I am 

 aware, which militates in the slightest degree against the 

 supposition that giant members of the sea-serpents may be 

 occasionally developed. The laws which regulate human 

 growth and structure, and in virtue of which veritable " sons. 

 of Anak," like Chang the Chinese giant, and the Russian 

 giant, differing widely in proportions from their fellow- 

 mortals, are developed, must be admitted to hold good for 

 the entire animal kingdom. There is, in fact, no valid 

 reason against the supposition that a giant serpent is occa- 

 sionally produced, just as we familiarly observe almost every 

 kind of animal to produce now and then a member of the 

 race which mightily exceeds the proportions of its neigh- 

 bours. But clearer still does our case become when we 

 consider that we have proof of the most absolute and direct 



