196 Description of a Mermaid. 



self, having the animal in my possession an hour, and the 

 description is from my own observation, taking minutes at 

 the lime. 1 regret it is not in my power to give a scientific 

 description, but you must use these facts for that purpose, 

 and lay it before the Society of which you are a member. 

 I offered for it $1000, which was as much as I dare risk. 

 I have heard the animal is taken to Europe, where it is prob- 

 able a particular account of it will be published. Until 

 this came under my observation, I was a disbeliever in the 

 exisience of an animal inhabiting water, so much resembling 

 a human being. jVbro I am convinced — I was only disap- 

 pointed in its size. I had conceived the idea they were 

 much larger, if they existed at all. 



Its extreme length from head to tail, 27 inches. Arms, 

 including hand, 13f divided thus, 8^ from end of finger to 

 elbow — from thence to shoulder 5-7 — the hands beautifully 

 formed — fingers tapering and nails long, delicate and white, 

 projecting a litde beyond the flesh — it is a female, and from 

 every appearance, full grown. The breasts were of good 

 size, resembling those of a human being, and were rela- 

 tively situated — immediately under them, commenced the* 

 fish. 



The head large in proportion, of human form, rather 

 round — the hair upon it coarse and black — most upon the 

 right side — the other appeared inclining to baldness, cheeks 

 project nearly in a line with the nose, which is perfectly hu- 

 man, rather flat, and with large nostrils. The ears were hu- 

 man, and properly placed — there is a little hair down the back 

 of the neck to where the shoulders set on — eye sockets 

 rather large — the head was so set. that its vision when pros- 

 trate was at about an angle of 45° upwards — which as you 

 hold it erect gives it the appearance of a hump-backed per- 

 son. The neck finely formed, rather long, and upon the 

 Adani's npple, a small lock of hair. Lips human — mouth 

 large, and the eye teeth were like tusks — the others were 

 like those of a human being. ■ The line of demarkation be- 

 tween the fish and woman, is at the commencement of the 

 scales immediately under the breasts, where the scales are so 

 fine, you can only see them with a powerful magnifying 

 glass — they gradually increase in size as you approach the 

 tail, where they are Ihtle larger than those of a haddock, and 

 adhere firmly. The skin above, was evidently smooth and 



