II 4 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



than in the production of huge cuttle-fishes, which, until with- 

 in the past few years, remained unknown to the foremost 

 pioneers of science ? In the idea of gigantic dev elopments 

 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. 



FIG. 9. Giant cuttle-fish's head. The arms, ten in number (two being longer than 

 the others), are represented coiled round a support. 



The differences regarding details of appearance and 

 structure described in the sea-serpent tales, leads us next, 

 and lastly, to point out certain considerations which may 

 serve to explain away some of the difficulties which beset 

 the question. That many of the appearances described, 

 may have been produced by animals other than true ser- 

 pents, cannot be doubted. It, therefore, constitutes an im- 

 portant part of our task to indicate the probabilities of 



