380 Notes and Comments. 
intelligence, and accuracy we guarantee’ :—‘ Just before 
sundown on a calm day, with small waves breaking on the 
coast, they noticed half a mile off a dark object moving 
among the dunes. They advanced towards it, but when 
about forty yards off it rose and rushed down into the sea. 
After getting out about thirty yards it turned round, showing 
only the head for five seconds, and then drew under water 
and disappeared. It was fifteen feet long. Its head was only 
about the size of a kangaroo dog’s. It had a thick, arched 
neck, passing gradually into the barrel of the body. It had 
no definite tail, and no fins. It was furred, the coat resembling 
that of a chestnut horse colour, well groomed and shining. 
It had four distinct legs. It travelled by bounding—arching 
its back and gathering up its body, so that the footprints of 
the forefeet were equally advanced, and also those of the 
hind feet. These footprints showed circular impressions with 
a diameter of nine inches, and the marks of four claws about 
seven inches long, extending outwards and away from the 
body. The prints showed about four feet between the marks 
of fore and hind feet, and then a gap of about ten feet, making 
a total of fifteen feet for each leap. Laterally they were two 
feet six inches apart.’ Unfortunately the animal got clear 
away and the tide obliterated its footprints ! 
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 
In his Presidential Address to the Ealing Scientific Society 
(Report for 1912-13, p. 3) on ‘ The Origin of Life,’ by Mr. W. 
Deane Butcher, he opines that ‘ it is possible that in the labor- 
atory there will be built up molecules so complicated and 
delicately balanced that they will respond to the vital thrill. 
But we shall have penetrated but little deeper into the mystery 
of life itself, the psychic and spiritual force which pervades the 
universe, of the origin of which we really know nothing.’ 
THE INTERGLACIAL PROBLEM. 
At the request of the Executive Committee of the Congrés 
Géologique International, Mr. G. W. Lamplugh, F.R.S., has 
prepared an excellent statement of the present position of the 
Interglacial Problem in the British Isles. Our readers will 
remember that in his Presidential Address to the Geological 
Section of the British Association, Mr. Lamplugh carefully 
reviewed the so-called evidence in favour of Interglacial Periods, 
and found it wanting. Since then he has ‘ re-examined the 
crucial sections of the Yorkshire coast and some other parts of 
the East of England, and has also been able closely to in- 
vestigate fresh areas in the Midland counties and in the borders 
of North Wales where it has been supposed the interglacial 
conditions were represented ; but again without finding any 
Naturalist, 
