394. THE VARIOUS EXPLANATIONS, [The 4th. | 
giant of its race — or, for that matter, in the existence of distinct 
species of monster sea-serpents —- than in the production of huge 
cuttle-fishes, which, until within the past few years, remained 
unknown to the foremost pioneers of science! In the idea of gigantic 
developments of snakes or snake-like animals, be they fishes or 
reptiles, I hold we have at least a feasible and rational explanation 
of the primary fact of the actual existence of such organisms.” 
Mr. Lex in his Sea Monsters Unmasked (1883) also says: 
“As marine snakes some feet in length, and having fin-like tails 
adapted for swimming, abound over an extensive geographical range, 
and are frequently met with far at sea, I cannot regard it as im- 
possible that some of these also may attain to an abnormal and — 
colossal development. Dr. Andrew Wilson, who has given much 
attention to this subject, is of the opinion that “in this huge de- 
velopment of ordinary forms we discover the true and natural law 
of the production of the giant serpent of the sea.” It goes far, at 
any rate, towards accounting for its supposed appearance’. 
But by this supposition the smooth skin, the four flappers, the 
mane, and the pointed tail of the sea-serpent are not explained. 
Further, true snakes cannot possibly throw their bodies into vert- 
ical undulations. It is moreover very improbable that large Ay- 
drophidae, supposing that they do exist, should visit Great Britain, 
the United States, the coasts of Norway, the North-Cape, Green- 
land and the Aleutes, as their geographical distribution only ex- 
tends over the tropical seas. 
The fifth explanation. The same Mr. Raringsavux believed the 
sea-serpent seen by Capt. Brown to be a fish (n®. 56), closely 
allied to the genera Symbranchus (Ham. Symbranchidae) and Sphage- 
branchus (Fam. Muraenidae) ; consequently belonging to the eel tribe. 
Mr. Gosse, in his Romance of Natural History, after having 
shown that in some instances the sea-serpent may have been an 
optical illusion caused by a huge stem of sea-weed, or a large 
seal, a cetacean, a basking shark, or a ribbon-fish, says: 
“A far greater probability exists, that there may be some oceanic 
species of the eel tribe, of gigantic dimensions. Our own familiar 
conger is found ten feet in length. Certainly, Captain M’Quhae’s figures 
remind me strongly of an eel; supposing the pectorals to be either 
so small as to be inconspicuous at the distance at which the ani- 
