288 HERBIVOROUS CETACEA. 



usual resources of scepticism, that the Seals and 

 other Sea-Animals, appearing under certain circum- 

 stances, operating upon an excited imagination, and 

 so producing ocular illusion, cannot avail here. It 

 is quite impossible that, under the circumstances, 

 six Shetland fishermen could commit such a mis- 

 take."* 



Having thus supplied a narrative of a personal 

 interview with a Mermaid, we shall next do as 

 much for the Merman, u About a mile from the 

 coast of Denmark, near Landscrone, three sailors, 

 observing something like a dead body floating in 

 the water, rowed towards it. When they came 

 within seven or eight fathoms, it still appeared as 

 at first, for it had not stirred ; but at that instant 

 it sunk, and came up almost immediately in the 

 same place. Upon this, out of fear, they lay still, 

 and then let the boat float, that they might the bet- 

 ter examine the monster, which, by the help of the 

 current, came nearer and nearer to them. He turned 

 his face and stared at them, which gave them a good 

 opportunity of examining him narrowly ; he stood 

 in the same place for seven or eight minutes, and 

 was seen above the water breast- high : At last they 

 grew apprehensive of some danger, and began to 

 retire ; upon which the monster blew up his cheeks, 

 and made a kind of roaring noise, and then dived 

 from their view." In regard to his form, they de- 

 clare in thei affidavits, which were regularly taken 



Edinburgh Magazine, vol. xiii. 



