[The Ist. ] THE VARIOUS EXPLANATIONS. 383 
Again, as we learn in Frorizp’s Neue Notizen, Vol. XXVIII, 
n°. 606, p. 184, Nov. 1843, the Editors of the Christiansand’s 
Posten after an account of a new appearance of the sea-serpent in 
the fjord of Christiansand, inserted in their columns, add the 
following remarks: 
“This whole description tallies well with an appearance, which 
the writer of these lines has witnessed a few times in the North 
Sea, and if the inhabitants of the coast near Ibbestad, if not 
withheld by their fear of the supposed sea-monster, had ‘rowed 
their boats to near the animal, they would undoubtedly have 
soon observed that the supposed intervals between the coils were 
nothing else but water. This great sea-serpent in reality consists of 
a row of porpoises, which in a shoal of from eight to twelve often 
swim after each other in line. As each of these brown animals, 
eight or ten feet long, when swimming, appears above the surface 
of the water at proportionably short intervals, in such a way, as 
if they were about to tumble head first, so every one, who sees 
such a row swimming, must at first sight believe to see the coils 
of an immense snake.” 
In a letter from Mr. J. D. Morrigs Sriruine to Captain Ham- 
mron, R. N., Secretary to the Admiralty, we find the passage 
(see Ill. Lond. News of October 28, 1848, and our n°. 113): 
“I mention my friend being a porpoise shooter, as many have 
believed that a shoal of porpoises following each other has given 
rise to the fable, as they called it, of the sea-serpent.”’ 
In ANDREw Witson’s Lezsure Time Studies we read, 1879: 
“The instance already alluded to, of a shoal of porpoises swim- 
ming in line, with their backs and dorsal fins appearing now and 
then, with a kind of regular alternating motion above the surface 
of the water, presents an example of a deceptive appearance brought 
about by a somewhat unusual habit of familiar animals.” 
Mr. Ler in his Sea Monsters Unmasked, 1883, treating of the 
figure of Mr. Brenstrup (see our fig. 24), says: 
“The supposed coils of the serpent’s body present exactly the 
appearance of eight porpoises following each other in line.” 
I have treated of his explanation in the right place (n°. 10). And 
on the following page he also asserts: 
“I believe that in every case so far cited from Pontoppidan, as 
well as that given by Olaus Magnus, the supposed coils or protub- 
erances of the serpent’s body were only so many porpoises swim- 
ming in line in accordance with their habit before mentioned. If an 
