Bigelow on the Sea Serpent. 147 
seen are still inclosed in the rock, but from their appear- 
ance, it is possible that they are human bones. Mr. Ells- 
worth states that the bones were found in a horizontal posi- 
tion across the bottom of the well, as he thinks nearly to the 
extent of six feet. It is to be hoped that the pieces of 
bones, when they are cleared of the rock which incloses 
them, will enable us to ascertain the fact whether they are 
human bones, or the bones of brute animals. Possibly by 
examining more of the fragments of the rock which have 
been thrown out by blasting, we shall find some bone that 
will be decisive of the genus of the animal to which they 
belong. Whether they are human or brute animal! bones, 
‘it is an important fact as it relates to Geology. 
Note bythe Editor -—The rock in which these bones were found, was the 
old red sand stone of Werner, which, with superincumbent ridges of green 
stone trap, forms an extensive region from the sea shore at New-Haven to the 
state of Vermont, and intersects the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. 
This sand stone region, whichis more than one hundred and ten miles long, 
and varies in breadth from three miles to twenty-five, touches the primitive 
on both sides, and at the norihern end, the boundary rocks being, generally, 
mica slate and ciay slate. The discovery of bones, in such a formation, so 
nearly allied to the primitive, (and in fact the sand stone rock is very firm, 
and made up of large portions of quariz, feldspar and mica—the palpable 
ruins of granite, with no cement, but finer portions of the same blended with 
oxid of iron,) cannot but be considered as very interesting. The bones 
were evidently those of a perfect and considerably large animal—some of 
the ribs were preserved ; there was a long cylindrical cavity, which appear- 
ed to have been occupied by an os humerus remaining in the rock, with 
one of its condyles, and a portion of the sternum—of that part which is ter- 
minated by the ensiform cartilage. Other bones were so completely encas- 
ed in the rock, that it could not be seen what they were. Professors Smith, 
Ives, and Knight, of the Medical Institution of Yale College, all admitted 
the possibility that they might be human bones, but did not consider the 
specimens as sufficiently distinct to form the basis of a certain conclusion. 
This is understood also to be the opinion of Professor Mitchell, of New- 
York. » 
4, Documents and Remarks respecting the Sea Serpent ; 
communicated by Professor Jacoz Bigeiow, of Boston. 
Mr. Sinuiman, 
Tw the year 1817, an unusual marine phenomenon excited 
notice in the harbour of Gloucester, Mass. being one with 
which the mariners and fishermen of that place were unac- 
quainted. Its character and appearance have since been 
well known to the public under the name of the Sea Serpent. 
