THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 157 



At the time the French settlers first occupied Quebec, the wal- 

 rus was seen frequently in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The tusks are 

 exceedingly durable, but I doubt whether any museum on this con- 

 tinent possesses a specimen from that locality, Laval, perhaps, ex- 

 cepted. One was picked up on the shore of Anticosti several years 

 ago, and, I was informed, was presented to a French clergyman. 

 He may have given it to the Regents of that university, whose valua- 

 ble collection reflects very great credit on the French inhabitants of 

 the lower Province. It certainly is far ahead of any in Ontario, and 

 the only thing we can urge in explanation is its longer estabhsh- 

 ment. 



IL 



Since Owen published his belief in the non-existence of the sea 

 monster, much additional proof on the subject has been obtained. 

 The London (Eng.) Spectator, Dec. 30th, 1874, furnishes us with 

 this statement : " In the Straits of Malacca, the great sea monster, 

 so often declared to be mythical, was seen recently and observed by 

 competent witnesses. On the arrival of the Nestor at Shanghai, the 

 master of the ship, John Keiller Webster, and the surgeon, James 

 Anderson, made a statutory declaration before a magistrate that 

 they themselves, passengers and crew, had seen a creature resembling 

 a huge salamander or lizard, of the following dimensions : head, 12 

 feet ; body, from 45 to 50 feet ; tail, not less than 150 feet. It was 

 first seen at 10.30 a, m. on the nth of September, fifteen miles west 

 of the North Sand lighthouse. In the straits the weather was fine, 

 sea smooth, and air perfectly clear. The three saloon passengers, 

 watch, etc., clearly saw it, and observed its movements. It travel- 

 led for a long time as fast as the steamer, appearing to paddle itself 

 along by the help of an undulatory motion ot its tail in a vertical 

 plane. The Chinese on deck were terribly alarmed, and set up a 

 howl. Both body and tail were marked by alternate bands, black 

 and yellow, the head was immediately connected with the body, 

 there was no indication ot a neck. The surgeon states that the 

 longer he observed it the more he was struck with its resemblance 

 ■ to a gigantic salamander or newt. Its back was oval in form, no 

 eyes or fins were seen. It did not spout or blow like a whale. The 

 greater part of the head was not observed, as it was under water." 

 There appears to be no manner of reason for doubting the very ex- 

 press evidence so soberly given, adds the editor in conclusion. 



