208 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
was arched with a central rib, not unlike the fluke of an anchor. 
Three times appeared a member (fig. 5) resembling the fin of a 
Sunfish (Orthagoriscus), but possibly it was cylindrical. As each 
time that it appeared the rest of the animal was under water, it 
could not be ascertained to what part of the body it was an 
appendage. 
Fig. 3 represents the appearance of the animal swimming 
away from the spectator, a large broad back like the carapace of 
a turtle preceded by the head showing the two upper lobes, the 
whole much resembling a Hippopotamus, but with the head 
disproportionately small. 
The length of the creature, showing above the surface, was 
probably over thirty feet, the colour a leaden grey, changing to 
tawny at the extremities. 
About half-past one o’clock some men went off from Marazion 
in a boat for the purpose of observing the animal at close 
quarters. One of them, Mr. James Parsons, has spent the 
greater part of his life in the navy, and in his voyages all over 
the globe has had abundant opportunities of observing the large 
sea animals. He is thoroughly acquainted with the appearance 
and manners of the various kinds of Whales, Sharks, Walrus, 
and the Devil-fish of the West Indies; but, although he observed 
this animal for a considerable time from a very short distance, 
he could not find any resemblance to any animal he had seen 
before. He describes the head as resembling that of the 
Elephant, bearing a trunk which swayed about as the creature 
moved its head. The eyes were about four inches in diameter, 
and projected about six inches, and were both visible when the 
back of the head was turned to the spectator. In colour they 
were dark, with no white about them; the shape of the pupil 
was not observed. On each side of the head above the eyes 
there was a small lump, and from the eye to the lower part of 
the head there was an undulating depression or fold. It appeared 
to have two pairs of paddles, stated to resemble fig. 4. At 
irrecular intervals a gurgling sound was heard, supposed to 
proceed from its breathing. 
The animal raised its head on the approach of the boat, 
and swam round looking at the men; it then sank below the 
surface, and was afterwards seen making off to sea at the 
rate of about six miles an hour, appearing occasionally at the 
