OF REPTILES* 
315 
rangement of colours in the large serpent, apply suffi- 
ciently well to the Scoliophis. The shape of the head 
and proportion of the eye — the protuberance on the side 
of the head, just above the eye — the form of the mouth 
—the distance from the head to the commencement of 
the protuberances — the brown colour of the body, and 
the whitish colour of the under part of the head and 
neck — the disappearance of bunches from what was 
supposed to be the navel towards the tail — the taper- 
ing of the body toward the tail— its roundness, and 
great flexibility, are all points of the closest resemblance* 
These coincidences cannot be the effect of design, since 
all the depositions from Gloucester, relative to the great 
Serpent, were in the hands of your Committee before the 
Scoliophis was discovered. 
Some other circumstances stated by the deponents, 
though not applying to the smaller serpent, are neverthe- 
less easy to be accounted for* The prong or spear seen 
near the head of the animal when in motion, was proba- 
bly the tongue. The shape of a harpoon ascribed to that 
organ was doubtless an optical illusion, occasioned by its 
rapid vibration; and this, it is well known, is not the first 
instance of such a deception. 
The structure of the Scoliophis is well suited to a re- 
sidence in the water, being capable of various and com- 
plicated motions. It bends horizontally, as did the 
great Serpent in the act of turning; it bends vertically, 
as that animal was supposed to do, in the act of swim- 
ming; and it might assume any compound and inter- 
mediate motion, which should be most effectual in pro- 
pelling it through the water. 
It is worthy of remark, that nearly all the circum- 
stances with regard to the appearance of the great Ser- 
pent, stated by the deponents, as facts, agree with the 
structure of the Scoliophis. On the other hand, those 
stated as conjectures, such as these; that the belly was 
white, that the animal had a navel, and no bunches be- 
yond that quite to the end of the tail, &c. almost uni- 
formly disagree with it. This is what might naturally 
