Reptiles. 3429 



acute agony, that a thrill of horror ran through our veins. The convulsive efforts lasted 

 .10 or 15 minutes, when they suddenly stopped, the head was partially raised — it fell 

 — the body partly turned, and lay still. I took off my hat, and nine terrific cheers 

 broke simultaneously from our throats. Our prey was dead. Luckily he floated buoy- 

 antly, and we took him alongside, and while doing so he turned over, lying belly up. 

 Every eye beamed with joy as we looked at him over the rail, and the crew again cheer- 

 ed vociferously, and I joined them. We now held a consultation as to what we should 

 do, and I had requested all hands to offer their opinions. After a short talk, all of us 

 felt convinced that it would be impossible to get him into port, and then we concluded 

 to try and save his skin, head, and bones, if possible. In the first place I requested a 

 Scotchman, who could draw tolerably, to take a sketch of him as he lay, and the mate 

 to measure him. It was now quite calm, and we could work to advantage. As I am 

 preparing a minute description of the serpent, I will merely give you a few general 

 points. It was a male; the length 103 feet 7 inches; 19 feet 1 inch around the neck ; 

 24 feet 6 inches around the shoulders; and the largest part of the body, which ap- 

 peared somewhat distended, 49 feet 4 inches. The head was long and flat, with ridges ; 

 the bones of the lower jaw separate ; the tongue had its end like the head of a heart. 

 The tail ran nearly to a point, on the end of which was a flat firm cartilage. The back 

 was black, turning brown on the sides ; then yellow, and on the centre of the belly a 

 narrow white streak two-thirds of its length ; there were also scattered over the body 

 dark spots. On examining the skin we found, to our surprise, that the body was co- 

 vered with blubber, like that of the whale, but it was only four inches thick. The oil 

 was clear as water, and burnt nearly as fast as spirits of turpentine. We cut the snake 

 up, but found great difficulty, and had to ' flense ' him, the body would not roll, and 

 the blubber was so very elastic, that when stretched 20 feet by the blocks, it would, 

 when cut off, shrink to 5 or 6 feet. We took in the head, a frightful object, and are 

 endeavouring to preserve it with salt. We have saved all the bones, which the men 

 are not done cleaning yet. In cutting open the serpent we found pieces of squid and 

 a large blackfish, the flesh of which dropped from the bones. One of the serpent's 

 lungs was three feet longer than the other. I should have observed that there were 

 94 teeth in the jaws, very sharp, all pointing backward and as large as one's thumb at 

 the gum, but deeply and firmly set. We found it had two spout-holes or spiracles, so 

 it must breathe like a whale ; it also had four swimming paws, or imitations of paws, 

 for they were like hard, loose flesh. The joints of the back were loose, and it seemed 

 as if, when it was swimming, that it moved two ribs and a joint at a time, almost like 

 feet. The muscular movement of the serpent after it was dead made the body look as 

 if it were encircled by longitudinal ridges. We were nearly three days in getting the 

 bones in, but they are now nearly clean, and are very porous and dark coloured. The 

 heart I was enabled to preserve in liquor, and one of the eyes, but the head, notwith- 

 standing it is cool, begins to emit an offensive odour ; but I am so near the coast now 

 that I shall hold on to it as it is, unless it is likely to breed a distemper. Every man 

 in the ship participates in my anxiety. 2 p. m. — I have just spoken the vessel ; she 

 proves to be the brig Gipsy, Captain Sturges, eight days from Ponce, P. E., with oran- 

 ges and merchandise, bound to Bridgeport. He has kindly offered to put these sheets 

 in the post-office when he arrives. As soon as I get in I shall be enabled to furnish 

 you a more detailed account. — I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Charles Seabury, 

 Master, Whale-ship Monongahela, of New Bedford."—' New York Tribune,' copied in 

 the Times of March 10, 1852. [Very like a hoax, but well drawn up.— E. N.] 



