[The 20th. ] THE VARIOUS EXPLANATIONS. A471 
to consist of a mass of birds in rapid motion; those that were 
strong on the wing were able to keep well up with the leaders, 
and to make the head appear thicker and darker by their num- 
bers, whilst those that had not such power of flight were com- 
pelled to settle into places nearer and nearer the tail. Doubtless 
these birds were shags (Pelecanus cristatus) returning to their homes 
for the might from the distant waters in which they had been 
fishing, during the day; perchance it may be wrong to assert posit- 
ively as to the variety of bird, but in as much as the writer 
has often seen shags on the Cornish coast in smaller numbers re- 
turning in single or double file to their roosting places, and since 
it is stated in works of natural history that they have been noticed 
accasionally flying in this peculiar manner to the number of a 
thousand or more, it does not appear an unwarranted liberty in 
supposing that they really were Pelecamt cristats.” 
“It is to be feared some of the geological gentlemen still doubt 
the interpretation of the lorgnette, preferring the fond deceit of a 
large and unknown serpent; but as in this case individual birds 
(scores of them) were distinctly seen flapping their wings, the 
writer has thought it his duty to report the circumstance to you 
that your readers who voyage across the seas may keep their opera- 
glasses in their pockets and verify for themselves, on the first op- 
portunity this interpretation of the great sea-serpent.” 
This story induced Mr. Brrp (Nature, of 12th. September, 1878) 
to make a similar avowal: 
“Dr. Drew’s letter in Nature, Vol. XVIII, p. 489, recalls to 
my mind a similar phenomenon witnessed by myself and a friend 
on August 3, while crossing from Grimsby to Rotterdam. It was 
towards evening, when, looking ahead, we saw a low, black hull, with- 
out masts or funnel, moving through the water at enormous speed. 
After a minute or two it undulated and rose from the surface, 
and we saw that it was a flight of birds.” 
“The deception was so complete that I can well believe that at 
least many of the stories of the sea-serpent have so originated , 
though I doubt whether a// can be explained in this manner.” 
Mr. Anprew Wrrson, on the contrary wrote the following 
against this suppositions (Vature, in the same number): 
“The communication of Dr. Joseph Drew in your issue of yester- 
day regarding the serpentine appearance of a flock of shags in the 
English Channel is extremely interesting even as a mere fact re- 
garding the habits of these birds. Will you kindly permit me, 
