2360 Reptiles. 



into the harbour, and about 20 feet above the level of the water, from which we were 

 distant about 50 or 60 feet. 



" Whilst thus seated, I observed an agitation in the water at the entrance of the 

 harbour, like that which follows a small vessel going five or six miles an hour through 

 the water. As we knew there was no shoal where the water was thus broken, I imme- 

 diately said to Mr. Lee that I had no doubt that what I had seen was the sea-serpent 

 in pursuit of fish. Mr. Lee was not directing his attention to the spot which I speak 

 of, and had not seen the foam of the water, the animal having immediately disap- 

 peared. 



" In a few moments after my exclamation, I saw on the opposite side of the har- 

 bour, at about two miles distance from where I had first seen, or thought I saw, the 

 snake, the same object moving with a rapid motion up the harbour, on the western 

 shore. As he approached us, it was easy to see that his motion was not that of the 

 common snake, either on the land or in the water, but evidently the vertical movement 

 of the caterpillar. As nearly as I could judge, there was visible at a time about 40 feet 

 of his body. It was not, to be sure, a continuity of body, as the form from head to 

 tail (except as the apparent bunches appeared as he moved through the water) was 

 seen only at three or four feet asunder. It was very evident, however, that his length 

 must be much greater than what appeared, as, in his movement, he left a considerable 

 wake in his rear. I had a fine glass, and was within from one-third to half a mile of 

 him. The head was flat in the water, and the animal was, as far as I could distin- 

 guish, of a chocolate colour. I was struck with an appearance in the front part of the 

 head like a single horn, about nine inches to a foot in length, and of the form of a 

 marline-spike. There were a great many people collected by this time, many of whom 

 had before seen the same object and the same appearance. From the time I first saw 

 him until he passed by the place where I stood and soon after disappeared, was not 

 more than fifteen or twenty minutes. 



" I left the place fully satisfied that the reports in circulation, although differing in 

 details, were essentially correct. I returned to Boston, and, having made my report, 

 I found Mrs. Perkins and my daughters disposed to make a visit to Gloucester with 

 me when the return of the animal should be again announced. A few days after my 

 return I went again to Cape Ann with the ladies : we had a pleasant ride, but returned 

 ungratified in the object which carried us there. 



" Whilst at Cape Ann I talked with many persons who had seen the serpent, and 

 among others with a person of the name of Mansfield, one of the most respectable in- 

 habitants of the town. His account to me was, that a few days before, as he was 

 taking a ride with his wife in a chair, the road taking them close to a bank which 

 overlooks the harbour (and is nearly a perpendicular precipice), he saw an uncommon 

 appearance, which induced him to descend from the carriage, when he saw the sea- 

 serpent, in which until then he had been an unbeliever. The animal was stretched 

 out, partly over the white sandy beach, which had four or five feet of water upon it, 

 and lay partly over the channel. He desired his wife to get out of the chair, which 

 she did. He said he had made up his mind as to the length of the snake, but wished 

 the opinion of his wife on the same subject. He asked her what she should consider 

 his length ; she answered that she could not undertake to say how many feet in length 

 he was, but that she thought him as long as the wharf behind their house, an object 

 with which she had always been familiar. Mr. Mansfield said he was of the same 



