[N°. 39, 40, 41. | REPORTS AND PAPERS. 167 
the head to a rattle-snake’s, say a common snake’s, the size of it 
to be that of a horse’s, say two feet, &c., &c., are all common 
statements. Of course Mr. AL1en is also mistaken as to its scaly 
surface. The roughness, however, may have been the result of the 
rippling of the water. When the animal disappeared it sunk directly 
down, like a rock, a statement which we have met with and shall 
meet with several times. That the teeth of the animal were not 
visible at a distance of two hundred yards cannot surprise us. In 
the animal’s turning its flexibility again is mentioned: head and 
tail approaching, nay, nearly touching each other. 
MY. — 1817, August 14. — See also no 41 on p. 164.— 
(Report of a Committee, 1817). 
“J, Epes Ellery, of Gloucester, in the County of Essex , shipmaster, 
depose and say; that on the 14th. day of August, 1817, I saw 
a sea animal that I thought to be a serpent, in the harbour in 
said Gloucester. I was on an eminence, near low water mark, and 
about thirty feet above the level of the sea, when I saw him. I 
should judge that he was about one hundred and fifty fathoms 
from me. I saw the upper part of his head, and I should say 
about forty feet of the animal. He appeared to me to have joints, 
about the size of a two-gallon keg. I was looking at him with a 
spy-glass, when I saw him open his mouth, and his mouth appeared 
like that of a serpent; the top of his head appeared flat. His mo- 
tion when he turned was quick, but I will not express an opinion 
of his velocity. The first part of the curve that he made in turn- 
ing was of the form of a staple, and as he approached towards 
his tail, he came near his body with his head, and then ran 
parallel with his tail, and his head and tail then appeared together.” 
“Q. At what time of the day did you see him?” 
“A. It was a little after sun set.” 
“@Q. What parts of it were above the surface of the water, and 
how high?” 
“A. 1 did not count the number of bunches, but they appeared 
about six inches above the surface of the water.” 
“Q. Were its sinuosities vertical or horizontal?” 
“A, Vertical.” 
“@. Did it appear to pursue, avoid, or notice any thing?” 
“A. \t did not appear to avoid any thing. He appeared to be 
