

THE GREAT SEA SERPENT. 417 



swimming in the manner I have described, and endeavoured 

 to portray (p. 402), would fulfil the description given by 

 Lieutenant Drummond, and would in a great measure 

 account for the appearances reported by Captain M'Quhae. 

 " The head long, pointed and flat on the top" accords with 

 the pointed extremity and caudal fin of the squid. " Head 

 kept horizontal with the surface of the water, and in rather a 

 raised position, disappearing occasionally beneath a wave for 

 a very brief interval, and not apparently for purposes of 

 respiration" A perfect description of the position and 

 action of a squid swimming. " No portion of it perceptibly 

 used in propelling it through the water, either by vertical or 

 horizontal undulations? The mode of propulsion of a 

 squid the outpouring stream of water from its locomotor 

 tube would be unseen and unsuspected, because sub- 

 merged. Its effect, the swirl in its wake, would suggest a 

 prolongation of the creature's body. The numerous arms 

 trailing astern at the surface of the water would give the 

 appearance of a mane. I think it not impossible that if 

 the officers of the Dcedalus had been acquainted with this 

 great sea-creature the impression on their mind's eye would 

 not have taken the form of a serpent. I offer this, with 

 much diffidence, as a suggestion arising from recent dis- 

 coveries ; and by no means insist on its acceptance ; for 

 Captain M'Quhae, who had a very close view of the animal, 

 distinctly says that " the head was, without any doubt, that 

 of a serpent," and one of his officers subsequently declared 

 that the eye, the mouth, the nostril, the colour, and the 

 form were all most distinctly visible. 



In a letter addressed to the Editor of the Bombay Times, 

 and dated " Kamptee, January 3rd, 1849," Mr. R. Davidson, 

 Superintending Surgeon, Nagpore Subsidiary Force, de- 

 scribes a great sea animal seen by him whilst on board 



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