CURIOUS CREATURES. 273 



undulations, and he thought its length might be seventy 

 to eighty feet. It was seen, also, by the crews of 

 thirteen fishing-boats, who, being frightened thereat, 

 fled to the nearest creek for safety. 



A Sea-Serpent, judged to be of the length of about 

 eighty feet, was seen by a party of British officers, in 

 Margaret's Bay, whilst crossing from Halifax to Mahone 

 Bay, on I5th May 1833. 



In 1847 a Sea-Serpent was seen frequently, in the 

 neighbourhood of Christiansand and Molde, by many 

 persons, and by one Lars Johnoen, fisherman at Smolen, 

 especially. He said that one afternoon, in the dog- 

 days, when sitting in his boat, he saw it twice in the 

 course of two hours, and .quite close to him. It came, 

 indeed, to within six feet of him, and, becoming alarmed, 

 he commended his soul to God, and lay down in the 

 boat, only holding his head high enough to enable him 

 to observe the monster. It passed him, disappeared, 

 and returned ; but a breeze springing up, it sank, and 

 he saw it no more. He described it as being about six 

 fathoms (thirty-six feet} long, the body (which was as 

 round as .a serpent's) two feet across, the head as long 

 as a ten-gallon cask, the eyes round, red, sparkling, and 

 about five inches in diameter ; close behind the head, 

 a mane, like a fin, commenced along the neck, and spread 

 itself out on both sides, right and left, when swimming. 

 The mane, as well as the head, was of the colour of 

 mahogany. The body was quite smooth, its movements 

 occasionally fast and slow. It was serpent-like, and 

 moved up and down. The few undulations which those 

 parts of the body and tail that were out of water made, 

 were scarce a fathom in length. His account was con- 

 firmed by several people of position, a Surgeon, a 



