CURIOUS CREATURES. 269 



have been seen in more northern waters. It has been 

 the fashion to pooh-pooh the existence of this sea mon- 

 ster, but there are many that still do believe in it most 

 thoroughly ; only, to express that belief would be to 

 certainly expose oneself to ridicule. No one doubts the 

 bond fides of those who narrate having seen them, but 

 some one is sure to come forward with his pet theory 

 as to its being a school of porpoises, or an enormous 

 cuttle-fish, with its tentacles playing on the surface 

 of the water ; so that no one likes to confess that he 

 has seen it. 



Both Olaus Magnus and Gesner give illustrations of 

 the Sea-Serpent of Norway, and I give that of the 

 latter, as it is the best. The former says : " They who 



Work of Navigation, on the Coasts of Norway, employ 

 themselves in fishing, or merchandize, do all agree in 

 this strange Story, that there is a Serpent there which 

 is of a Vast Magnitude, namely 200 feet long, and, 

 moreover, 20 foot thick ; and is wont to live in Rocks 

 and Caves toward the Sea Coast about Berge ; which 

 will go alone from his holes in a clear night in Summer, 

 and devour Calves, Lambs, and Hogs, or else he goes 

 into the Sea to feed on Polypus, Locusts, and all sorts 



