64 WOULD-BE SEA-SERPENTS. 
webbed unless the space of an inch and a half in breadth, where 
they joined each other; and the length seemed to be about eight 
inches: That he measured one of the wings next the head, which 
was four feet and a half in length, and in shape, from the first 
joint to the extremity, it resembled a goose-wing without the 
feathers: That the hollow between the snout and the upper part 
of the skull, appeared to him not to be quite so deep as repre- 
sented in the drawing: That in every other respect the drawing 
appears to be so exact, that if the fish had not been mentioned, 
it would have brought it to his recollection: That from the ridge 
of the back to the belly, the body appeared to be four feet in 
depth, and the circumference rather oval than round; but that he 
did not measure either: That the mane or bristles of the back 
extended from the shoulder to within two feet and a half of the 
tail, and were of a shining appearance when wet; but shrunk up, 
and turned yellow, when dried: That the mane was thin, about 
two inches and a half in breadth towards the shoulder, and two 
inches in breadth at the tail: That the skin seemed to be elastic 
when compressed, and of a greyish colour, without any scales: it 
was rough to the feeling, on drawing the hand over it, towards 
the head; but was smooth as velvet when the hand was drawn towards 
the tail: That the extremity of the tail was about two inches in 
thickness, and somewhat rounded; and as he saw no part of the 
bones, he cannot say whether any part of the tail had been broken 
off or not: That the eyes appeared to be no larger than those of 
a seal: That there were two spout holes on each side of the neck, 
about an inch and a fourth in diameter, and at the same distance 
from the head as appears in the drawing: That he lifted up the 
snout, and examined the throat, which was too narrow to admit 
his hand: That a part of the bones of the lower jaw, resembling 
those of a dog, were remaining at that time, with some appear- 
ance of teeth, which were soft, and could be bent by the strength 
of the hand: That he observed no nipples, or organs of generation; — 
the belly having been burst open by the violence of the sea: That 
the stomach was about the size of a ten gallon cask; and the 
bowls about the bulk of those of a cow: That the bristles of the 
back which had been pulled off through curiosity, were luminous 
in the dark, while they continued wet. And all this he declares 
to be truth, &c. | | 
“(Signed)” 
“Thomas Fotheringhame.” 
