THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



such an animal being there. Subsequent to the 

 period of which I have been speaking, the snake 

 was seen by several of the crews of our coasting 

 vessels, and in some instances within a few yard i. 

 Captain Tappan, a person well known to me, saw 

 him with his head above water two or three feet, 

 at times moving with great rapidity, and at 

 others slowly. He also saw what explained the 

 appearance which I have described, of a horn on 

 the front of the head. This was doubtless what 

 was observed by Captain Tappan to be the 

 tongue, thrown in an upright position from the 

 mouth, and having the appearance which I have 

 given to it. 



"One of the revenue cutters, whilst in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cape Ann, had an excellent view of 

 him at a few yards' distance; he moved slowly, 

 and upon the approach of the vessel, sank and 

 was seen no more." 



Though the position and character of some of 

 these witnesses add weight to their testimony, 

 and seem to preclude the possibility of their being 

 either deceived or deceivers, on a matter which 

 depended on the use of their eyes, yet, owing to a 

 habit prevalent in the United States, of supposing 

 that there is somewhat of wit in gross exaggera- 

 tions, or hoaxing inventions, we do naturally 

 look with a lurking suspicion on American state- 

 ments, when they describe unusual or disputed 

 phenomena. It may therefore be interesting to 

 give the evidence of five British officers, to the 

 serpent's appearance on the American coast, some 

 fifteen years after the occurrence last men- 

 tioned. 



"On the 15th of May, 1833, a party, consisting 

 of Captain Sullivan, Lieutenants Maclachlan and 

 Malcolm of the Rifle Brigade, Lieutenant Lyster 

 292 



