THE GREA T SEA SERPENT. 
69 
The skin was smootli and of a greyish colour ; the eye was of 
the size of a seal's. When the decaying carcass was broken up 
by the waves, portions of it were secured (such as the skull, the 
upper bones of the swimming paws, &c.) by Mr. Laing, a neigh- 
bouring proprietor, and some of the vertebrae were preserved and 
deposited in the Royal University Museum, Edinburgh, and in 
the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. An 
able paper," says Dr. Robert Hamilton, in his account of it,* " on 
these latter fragments and on the wreck of the animal was read 
by the late Dr. Barclay to the Wernerian Society, and will be 
found in Vol. I. of its Transactions, to which we refer. We have 
supplied a wood-cut of the sketch " (of which I give a facsimile 
here) " which was taken at the time, and which, from the many 
FIG. 17.— THE "sea serpent" OF THE WERNERIAN SOCIETY. {Facsimile.) 
affidavits proffered by respectable individuals, as well as from 
other circumstances narrated, leaves no manner of doubt as to the 
existence of some such animal." 
Well ! one would think so. It looks convincing, and 
there is a savour of philosophy about it that might lull 
the suspicions of a doubting zoologist. What more could 
be required ? We have accurate measurements and a 
sketch taken of the animal as it lay upon the shore, minute 
particulars of its outward form, characteristic portions of 
its skeleton preserved in well-known museums, and any 
amount of affidavits forthcoming from most respectable 
individuals if confirmation be required. And yet, 
" 'Tis true, 'tis pity; 
And pity 'tis 'tis true," 
the whole fabric of circumstances crumbled at the touch 
* Jardine's Naturalists' Library: ' Marine Amphibia,' p. 314. 
