MERMEN AND MERMAIDS. 287 



element. It instantly dived, descending in a per- 

 pendicular direction." 



After writing the above, (we are informed,) the 

 narrator had an interview with the skipper of the 

 boat and one of the crew, from whom he learned 

 the following additional particulars. They had the 

 animal for three hours within the boat ; the body 

 was without scales or hair ; was of a silvery grey 

 colour above, and white below, like the human skin ; 

 no gills were observed; nor fins on the back or 

 belly. The tail was like that of the dog-fish ; the 

 mammae were about as large as those of a woman ; 

 the mouth and lips were veiy distinct, and resem- 

 bled the human. 



This communication was from Mr Edmondston, a 

 well known and intelligent observer, to the distin- 

 guished Professor of Natural History in the Edin- 

 burgh University, and Mr E. adds a few reflections, 

 which are so pertinent, that we shall avail ourselves 

 of them. " That a very peculiar animal has been 

 taken, no one can doubt. It was seen and handled 

 by six men, on one occasion, and for some time, 

 not one of whom dreams of a doubt of its being a 

 Mermaid. If it were supposed that their fears mag- 

 nified its supposed resemblance to the human form, 

 it must at all events be admitted that there was some 

 ground for exciting these fears. But no such fears 

 were likely to be entertained ; for the Mermaid is 

 not an object of terror to the fisherman ; it is ra- 

 ther a welcome guest, and danger is apprehended 

 only from its experiencing bad treatment. The 



