224 The Under-Water World 



It comes out of its caverns only on 

 summer nights, to wander on shore to 

 devour calves, lambs and hogs, or goes 

 into the sea to eat cuttles and all kinds 

 of fish. It has a row of hairs of two feet 

 in length, hanging from the neck, sharp 

 scales of a dark colour and brilliant 

 flaming eyes. It attacks boats and 

 snatches away the men." 



A host of other early writers have 

 copied this good prelate's story with 

 such embellishments as occurred to them 

 at the time. One can easily forgive this 

 sort of thing amongst fifteenth century 

 writers, but when one finds that such 

 romances are still " going strong " right 

 up to the opening of the present century, 

 a lurking suspicion of an ulterior motive 

 not unnaturally obtrudes itself. 



In 1845, a certain Dr. Albert Koch, 

 not only claimed to have seen the 

 serpent, but actually exhibited a 140- 

 foot long specimen on Broadway. His 



