68 WOULD-BE SEA-SERPENTS. 
two canals, one above and another below the backbone, large 
enough to admit one’s finger, and extending from the vertebrae of 
the neck, to the extremity of the tail, containmg two ligaments, 
which he supposed, enabled the animal to raise itself up, or to 
bend its body in a spiral form: That a tract of strong easterly 
wind had prevailed, before the body was discovered upon the 
shore, and that he saw the body on two or three different occa- 
sions, after he had measured it, and before it went to pieces. And 
all ine he declares to be truth, &c.” : 
“(Signed)” 
“Geo. Sherar.”’ 
“Compeared Mr. William Folsatter, tacksman of Whitehall, in 
the island of Stronsa; who being interrogated, solemnly declared, 
That having heard that it was a dead whale that had come on 
shore in Rothiesholm-head, he did not see the body till about the 
28th. day of October, when it had gone to pieces: That he saw 
about nine or ten feet of the back-bone, and some bones of the 
paws, and what was supposed to be the stomach which last he 
had the curiosity to open; that it was about four feet long, and 
as thick as a firkin, but flatter: That the membranes that formed 
the divisions, extended quite across the supposed stomach, and 
were about three sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and at the 
same distance from each other, and of the same substance, with 
the stomach itself: That the section of the stomach, after it was 
opened, had the appearance of a weaver’s reed: ‘That he opened 
about a fourth part of the supposed stomach which contained 
nothing but a reddish substance, like blood and water, and 
emitted a fetid smell: That he was very doubtful at the time 
whether it was really the stomach or not; but that each end of 
it had the appearance of terminating in a gut. And all this he 
solemnly declares to be the truth, &e. 
“(Signed)” 
“Wim. Folsetter.” 
“The said Mr. George Sherar being again interrogated , declares, 
That he examined the supposed stomach, after it had been opened 
by Mr. Folsitter, and that he laid it open to the farther end: 
That there was something like a gut at the end which he opened, 
about two inches long, with a small aperture: That the stomach 
had the same appearance from end to end, and contained nothing 
but a substance like blood and water: That the large bone of 
which a drawing was taken, was considered as the collar-bone; 
