MAMMALOGY. 



upon the testimony of Pliny, that the same animal was an inhabitant 

 of Ethiopia. He speaks likewise of its extending to Amboina, the 

 Malaccas and Ternate Isles. 



small and shrivelled, must have been full and prominent when the animal 

 was living and which it is concluded " were destined to suckle the 

 young.'' The magnitude, of this part whatever may be its composition, is 

 conspicuous. But as we have yet to learn whether this Mermaid be ovipa- 

 rous or viviparous we are unable to determine the importance of those 

 organs to the infant olTspring, The Simiae we know to be viviparous, pro- 

 ducing seldom more than one at every birth: the Salmon more prolific, 

 every female individual of this tribe producing many thousands. The re- 

 sult indeed of the most minute inspection will lead to a conclusion that its 

 offspring must be oviparous as in the Salmon, and therefore, if as numerous 

 as the usual produce of that tribe these mammae must be considered rather 

 as ornamental than useful. There would be at least some difficulty in con- 

 ceiving these two teats adapted to the purpose of affording nourishment 

 to perhaps a hundred thousand " little Mermaids,'' and that they so 

 nourish their infant brood must be concluded since " milk" we are gravely 

 told "has been found in the breasts of the Mermaid." 



There is not an observation that we have thus far combatted which is 

 not to be found very widely circulated with the sanction of the names of 

 individuals of much respectability who had seen and examined the subject 

 attentively. Those were doubtless cursory observers only, and liable to 

 be deceived; but we have besides to recollect that independently of these, 

 there have been many men of the medical profession who have given the aid 

 of their support, in order to demonstrate this Mermaid's authenticity. 

 This seems incredible, but we are aware that it is true. And it has even 

 been advanced upon such authority, with consummate boldness, that this 

 compound deformity is to undergo an anatomical investigation under the 

 confident expectation of its proving genuine. 



As every one will be aware, however deficient may be their knowledge 

 in the science of comparative anatomy, that there must be very remote dis- 

 tinctions between the internal structure of the Salmo and the Simla, it 

 may excite some curiosity to ascertain from the expectation of those who 

 advocate its authenticity, whether they conceive the piscivorous organiza- 

 tion to prevail upwards into the trunk or body of the Simia or 

 the abdominal viscera of the mammiferous animal to descend into and 

 amalgamate with the internal organization of the fish ; and in either case 

 it would be desirable to know in what manner the destined functions of 

 nature are performed. It appears to us a matter of deep astonishment 



