D0 ATTEMPTS TO DISCREDIT THE SEA-SERPENT. 
the upper and lower part of the head. The sides and back are dusky 
brown; the belly is dirty white. Although sinuous like a snake, there 
are hard knot-like substances along the back. The harpoon is still 
in him. He lies in the water, confined with ropes, which keep his 
body in a curve, so that he cannot get away. He can use his head 
and tail, with which he stirs the water all around. When he rears 
his head (which he generally keeps under water) he presents a fear- 
ful aspect. In expanding his mouth he exhibits a blood-red cavity , 
horribly to look at, and the air rushes forth with a heavy short puff.” 
The well known Mr. Spencer I. Batrp, the late zealous Secretary 
of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, U. S. on reading this 
in the Zoologist, sent to the Editor the following letter (Zoologist , 
1856, p. 4998): 
“In the November number of the “Zoologist’’ (Zool. 4896) 1 
notice an extract from an American paper, respecting the capture 
of the “Great American Snake”. You have probably since learned 
that the account is an unmitigated hoax, manufactured by a news- 
paper-editor, while on a summer vacation, for the purpose of fur- 
nishing material for his editorial correspondence. — Spencer F. Barro, 
Smithsonian Institution Washington, U. S. December 28, 1855.” 
The following splendid trick is of Captain Taytor, who is even 
called “a respectable and trustworthy gentleman’, nay, who, when 
the truth of it was inquired into, even “confirmed the statement” ! 
In the Zoologist of 1860, p. 6985, we read: 
“The following extract from the log of the “British Banner’, 
which arrived at Liverpool on Sunday, 18 March, last, appeared 
in the Liverpool Daily Post of March 20. “On the 25th. April 
in lat. 12° 7' east, and longitude 93° 52’ south, felt a strong sen- 
sation as if the ship were trembling. Sent second mate to see what 
‘was up; the latter called out to me to go up the fore rigging and 
look over the bows. I did so, and saw an enormous serpent shaking 
the bowsprit with his mouth. There was about thirty feet of the 
serpent out of the water, and I could see in the water abaft of 
our stern; must have been at least three hundred feet long; was 
about the circumference of a very wide crinoline petticoat, with 
black back, shaggy mane, horn on his forehead, and large glaring 
eyes, placed rather near the nose, and jaws about eight feet long; 
he did not observe me, and continued to shake the bowsprit and 
