

STRANGE SEA CREATURES. 231 



better deserves to be called a strange sea creature even than 

 any of those which have been dealt with in the preceding 

 pages. But the only account I have yet seen of Captain 

 Webster's statement, and Mr. Anderson's corroboration, 

 appeared in an American newspaper ; and though the story 

 is exceedingly well authenticated if the newspaper account 

 of the matter is true, it would not be at all a new feature in 

 American journalism if not only the story itself, but all the 

 alleged circumstances of its narration, should in the long 

 run prove to be pure invention. 



