2396 Reptiles. 



lost no time in bringing" the young monster to the secretary of our Museum. The 

 animal, whatever it may be called, is still alive, and we have just been favoured with 

 a sight of it; but whether it really be a young sea-serpent or not, we shall leave those 

 who are better acquainted with Zoology than we are to determine. Be it what it may, 

 it is a living creature, more than 20 feet in length, less than an inch in circumference, 

 and of a dark brown chocolate colour. When at rest its body is round ; but when it 

 is handled it contracts upon itself, and assumes a flattish form. When not disturbed 

 its motions are slow ; but when taken out of the water and extended, it contracts like 

 what a long cord of caoutchouc would do, and folds itself up in spiral form, and soon 

 begins to secrete a whitish mucus from the skin, which cements the folds together, as 

 for the purpose of binding the creature into the least possible dimensions. — ' Montrose 

 Standard.' 



[This creature was probably a specimen of Gordius marinus. I am obliged for 

 the extract. — E. Newman.'] 



Occurrence of Brachioptilon Hamiltoni in the Gulf of Mexico. — A few days since, 

 as I was reading the account of the large species of ray killed off California (Zool. 

 2357) to my friend Captain Triscott, R.M., he related the following incident : — When 

 in H.M.S. Diana, in the gulf of Mexico, in the year 1808, the launch being employed 

 in watering the ship from the Mississippi, as he was waiting to tow her off in the cut- 

 ter, about two miles from the shore, one of the men called his attention to an immense 

 flat fish on the bottom, immediately under the boat, the shape of which reminded 

 him of a skate or ray-fish, which it also resembled in colour, having apparently a dark 

 grayish back, paler towards the fins. The width of the fish, comparing it with the 

 floor of the room I am writing in, he estimates at about 18 or 20 feet. The fish kept 

 gently raising and depressing its finny sides, and moved on almost imperceptibly. 

 The day was calm, the water perfectly clear and little more than a fathom in depth. 

 It was seen of course by all the boat's crew, who were equally surprised at its appear- 

 ance. The mention of the circumstance, on regaining the ship, caused much surprise 

 to all on board, none of whom had ever met with anything of the kind. I think the 

 incident worthy of recording, as it is highly probable it is the same species as that 

 taken by Captain Hamilton. — George Guyon ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, February 8, 

 1849. 



Combat with a Swordfsh. — In September last the beautiful bay of Chester, Nova 

 Scotia, was the scene of a curious encounter with a swordfish, ending in its defeat and 

 capture. The animal having been seen approaching, by a man on board an outward- 

 bound vessel, notice was immediately given to the shore, and two boats started in 

 pursuit, one hearing a harpooner, — or spearman rather,— with a hay-fork for his instru- 

 ment of warfare ; the fighting hero of the other armed with an axe. Having suc- 

 ceeded in hemming him in towards the land, they first wounded him severely with 

 the fork, and finally despatched him with the axe ; after which he was taken on board, 

 and landed at a wharf amid the acclamations of a crowd assembled to witness the 

 sport. This specimen measured ten feet in length, including the sword, which was 

 four feet long. There was a thrasher also in company, who basely deserted his ally 

 in the hour of need, and was afterwards seen making off towards the ocean. — Commu- 

 nicated by Dr. Coif swell. 



