2308 Reptiles. 



the sea, and as nearly as we could approximate by comparing it with the length of 

 what our maintopsail yard would show in the water, there was at the very least 60 feet 

 of the animal a fieur d'eau, no portion of which was, to our perception, used in pro- 

 pelling it through the water, either by vertical or horizontal undulation. It passed 

 rapidly, but so close under our lee quarter that had it been a man of my acquaintance 

 I should have easily recognised his features with the naked eye ; and it did not, either 

 in approaching the ship or after it had passed our wake, deviate in the slightest degree 

 from its course to the S.W., which it held on at the pace of from 12 to 15 miles per 

 hour, apparently on some determined purpose. 



" The diameter of the serpent was about 15 or 16 inches behind the head, which 

 was, without any doubt, that of a snake ; and it was never, during the twenty minutes 

 that it continued in sight of our glasses, once below the surface of the water : its colour 

 a dark brown, with yellowish white about the throat. It had no fins, but something 

 like the mane of a horse, or rather a bunch of seaweed, washed about its back. It was 

 seen by the quartermaster, the boatswain's mate, and the man at the wheel, in addition 

 to myself and officers above-mentioned. 



" I am having a drawing of the serpent made from a sketch taken immediately 

 after it was seen, which I hope to have ready for transmission to my Lords Commis- 

 sioners of the Admiralty by to-morrow's post. Peter M'Quhje, Captain ; to Admiral 

 Sir W. H. Gage, G.C.H., Devonport."— ' Times,' October 13, 1848. 



The Great Sea-Serpent. — " Mary Ann, of Glasgow, Glasgow, October 19. 



" I have just reached this port, on a voyage from Malta and Lisbon, and my at- 

 tention having been called to a report relative to an animal seen by the master and 

 crew of Her Majesty's ship Daedalus, I take the liberty of communicating the follow- 

 ing circumstance: — 



" When clearing out of the port of Lisbon, on the 30th of September last, we spoke 

 the American brig Daphne, of Boston, Mark Trelawney master. She signalled for 

 us to heave to, which we did ; and, standing close round her counter, lay -to while the 

 mate boarded us with the jollyboat, and handed a packet of letters to be despatched 

 per first steamer for Boston on our arrival in England. The mate told me that when 

 in lat. 4° 11' S., long. 10° 15' E., wind dead north, upon the 20th of September, a 

 most extraordinary animal had been seen : from his description it had the appearance 

 of a huge serpent or snake, with a dragon's head. Immediately upon its being seen, 

 one of the deck guns was brought to bear upon it, which having been charged with 

 spike-nails, and whatever other pieces of iron could be got at the moment, was dis- 

 charged at the animal, then only distant about forty yards from the ship ; it immedi- 

 ately reared its head in the air, and plunged violently with its body, showing evidently 

 that the charge had taken effect. The Daphne was to leeward at the time, but was 

 put about on the starboard tack and stood towards the brute, which was seen foaming 

 and lashing the water at a fearful rate : upon the brig nearing, however, it disappeared, 

 and, though evidently wounded, made rapidly off at the rate of 15 or 16 knots an hour, 

 as was judged from its appearing several times upon the surface. The Daphne pur- 

 sued for some time, but the night coming on the master was obliged to put about and 

 continue his voyage. 



" From the description given by the mate, the brute must have been nearly 100 

 feet long, and his account of it agrees in every respect with that lately forwarded to 

 the Admiralty by the captain of the Drcdalus. The packet of letters to Boston, 



