EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 39 



about 500 ft. to 600 ft. Concluded that the dark mass first seen must 

 have been tbe creature's head. The swirl caused by the monster's 

 progress could be distinctly heard, and a strong odour like that of a 

 low-tide beach on a summer day pervaded the air. Twice along its 

 length the disturbance of tbe water and a broadening of the surrounding 

 belt of phosphorus indicated the presence of huge fins in motion 

 below the surface. The wet, shiny back of the monster was dotted 

 with twinkling phospborescent lights, and was encircled with a band 

 of white phosphorescent sea. Such are the bare facts of the passing 

 of the Sea Serpent in latitude 5 deg. 31 min. S., longitude 4 deg. 

 42 min. W., as seen by myself, being officer of the watch, and by the 

 helmsman and look-out man. — A. H. Raymer, Second Officer. 



Mr. S. G. Stephens (master of the Fort Salisbury) writes in 

 reference to Mr. Eaymer's narrative : " I can only say that he is 

 very earnest on the subject, and certainly has, together with look-out 

 and helmsman, seen something in the water of a huge nature as 

 specified." — Daily Mail. 



The development among animals, and especially among birds, of 

 purely ornamental wind-bags, used as adjuncts in courtship, forms the 

 theme of an article in ' Knowledge ' for January, by Mr. W. P. Pycraft, 

 who writes: — "These wind-bags, which, almost without exception, 

 may be inflated and deflated at the will ol the animal, differ much in 

 the nature of their origin. . . . Take the Common Pigeon, for 

 example. Could anything appear more silly tban the strutting, bowing, 

 and cooing of tbe cock aided by this very practice of filling bis gullet 

 with intoxicating draughts of the morning air, the which swell his 

 neck to unduly large proportions, and apparently, on this account, 

 make him so much the more fascinating ? With the Pigeon tribe, no 

 special receptacle is provided for the indrawn air. . . . The present 

 greatness of the crop, we would point out, is due not so much to the 

 efforts of the prancing bird as to the care and selection of the breeder. 

 ... A still more remarkable gullet pouch is that of the Frigate-Bird 

 of the Tropics. Bare externally, of a vivid scarlet colour, and capable 

 of being inflated till it is nearly as large as the rest of the body, this 

 pouch is an invaluable asset to its possessor when seeking a mate. 

 For here, as elsewhere, the successful suitor is he who makes the 

 most of his peculiar charms ; the prize falling to him who is able to 

 display the biggest and most brilliantly coloured pouch. Only the 

 males wear this ornament, which is retained only during the breeding 

 season. At this time a lively competition appears to take place, a 



