Reptiles, i^c. 7257 



Aracknidans. Lycosa, Walckenaera, Gastracantha, Thomisus, Sallicatiour species), 

 Scorpio (common under dead stems and leaves). 



Crustacea. Oxypoda (two species), Thelphusa (two species), Oniscus (two species). 



Annelides. Lumbricus (under dead coral-masses on the shores of the lagoon).—- 

 Arthur Adams. 



On the Probable Origin of some Sea Serpents. — An incident occurred on board the 

 vessel of which I am surgeon which, I think, deserves to be recorded as an illustration 

 of optical delusion that might have become a source of error, and given rise lo yet 

 another sea serpent. We were sailing among the Islands of the Mialan group, at the 

 entrance of the Gulf of Pe-chili. There was liitle wind, and gentle ripples covered 

 the surface of the sea. I was sipping ray Congo at the open port of the ward room 

 on the main deck, admiring the setting sun, and watching the rounded outlines of the 

 blue mountains and distant islands against the sky, and the numbers of sea-birds 

 " wheeling rockwards lo their nests," when my eye rested on a long dark object apparently 

 making its way steadily through the water. After observing it sometime in silence I 

 was sorely puzzled and could make nothing of it. It was neither a seal nor a diver 

 nor a fishing cormorant, for with their forms I was familiar ; so I went on deck and 

 consulted other eyes than mine. Sundry glasses were brought to bear on the suspicious 

 object, and the general scrutiny seemed to decide that it was a large snake, about ten 

 feet long (or much longer according to some), working its way vigorously against the 

 tide by lateral undulations of the body. So strong was this conviction thai the course 

 of the ship was altered, and a boat got ready for lowering. With a couple of loaded 

 revolvers, some boathooks and a fathom or so of lead-line, I made ready for the encounter, 

 intending to range up alongside, shoot the reptile through the head, make him fast by 

 a clove-hitch, and tow him on board in triumph ! By this time, however, a closer 

 and more critical inspection had taken place, and the supposed sea-monster turned 

 himself into a long dark root, gnarled and twisted, of a tree, secured to the moorings 

 of a fishing net, with the strong tide passing it rapidly, and thus giving it an apparent 

 life-like movement and serpentine aspect. — Arthur Adams; April 27, 1860. 



Singing Fish. — That part of the interesting letter from Dr. Buist, in the 'Athenaeum,' 

 relating to the voice of fishes, has induced me to send you this note. The River Plate 

 swarms with fish, and is the habitat of one possessed of a very sonorous voice, like that 

 found in the River Borneo— the account of which is quoted by Dr. Buist from the 

 ' Journal ' of the Samarang. During the years 1845-6 H.M.S. Eagle was stationed 

 in the River Plate, and anchored about three miles from Monte Video, with an occa- 

 sional change a little higher up the stream, or lower down, as far as Maldonado. 

 During my service on board that ship I have often heard a loud piscatory chorus during 

 the night. My cabin was in the after part of the gun-room ; and when lying in bed 

 with the " scuttle " open (a small window about six feet from the surface of the river) 

 I have listened with pleasure and curiosity to the loud sounds proceeding from these 

 creatures as they roamed in numhers round the ship. The noise they made was at 

 times very loud and close at hand, and seemed to proceed from many voices — receding 

 now and then, and becoming lost iu the distance, and again returning. At other times. 



