84 WOULD-BE SEA-SERPENTS. 
measured no less than fifty five feet in length; whereas that of 
the largest Basking shark of which we possess any accurate account 
scarcely exceeds thirty six feet.” 
“The circumference of the two animals is no less widely different. 
My notes states the circumference at the thickest part of the body 
of the Orkney animal to be about ten feet, when it tapered much 
towards the head and the tail; whereas the circumference of a large 
Basking shark, where thickest, is not less than twenty feet. Be- 
sides, the ine like figure of the latter could scarcely be confounded 
with the eel-like are of the Stronsey animal.” 
“(The diameter of the animal is a little differently stated by 
different witnesses. But as we are told that its contour was more 
oval than round, we can easily explain the discrepancy. One witness , 
who had not measured it, speaks of it as equalling a middle-sized 
horse in thickness. On measuring four horses of from thirteen to 
fourteen hands in height, I found their greatest circumference to 
be from seventy-one to seventy-three inches, (or from five feet 
eleven inches to six feet one inch), or an average of six feet, that 
is less than the thickest part of our animal, but seemingly near 
that of its average dimensions.)” 
“The mane as it is termed, may perhaps be the remains of a 
decomposed fin; but the fibres do not seem to be the rays of a 
fin; and the animal seen from the Daedalus is stated to have had 
a mane, floating about like sea-weed; and a similar appendage 
has generally been noticed in some less distinct accounts of a sup- 
posed sea-serpent.”’ 
“Supposing this to be a dorsal fin, it extended from the anterior 
wings, or pectoral fins, towards the aul for thirty seven feet, and 
differs from the dorsal fin of any species of shark. If the mane 
consisted of detached fibres extending for thirty seven feet on the 
back, it is analogous to no appendage of any known marine 
animal. That its rays or fibres are very peculiar, will appear from 
the specimen now exhibited. These round fibres are fourteen inches 
in length; and in the dried state, have a yellow colour and trans- 
parency, sete to that of isinglass,” | 
“The vertebrae, which have been preserved in spirit in our 
Museum, have been exceedingly well described by Dr. Barclay, in 
the Wernerian Transactions, Vol. I; and undoubtedly, in their — 
want of processes and cartilaginous structure , have much resemblance _ 
to those of chondropterygious fishes. One of the vertebrae adherent 
to the cranium, measured only two inches across; while that of 
