THE SEA SERPENT, 
l6% 
r ~fhe Sea Serpent *. 
This hideous animal may be referred to the genus of 
eels, which in its external figure, it nearly refemhles. It 
is generally about five feet in length, (lender, and al- 
molt entirely of the fame thicknefs, till near the tail, 
where it tapers off in a fmall point. T. he upper part of 
the body is of a dirty yellow, the under, bright blue. 
The fnout is long, (lender, and prominent, divided by » 
frightful mouth ; armed on the inner parts with fmall 
teeth, eight or nine of a larger Cue being placed before, 
and on the middle of the palate. The eyes are fmall, 
an oblong (liape, placed obliquely in the direction of the 
body; the irides of a gold colour, interfperfed with 
brown fpots. This lpecies has only two pair of fins, i«' 
fcKid near the gills, and (lengthened by fixteen cartila- 
ginous rays. There are two fpotted lines, arifing fro® 
a common point on the back part of the head, and (fetch- 
ing in a parallel direftion along the fides, till they ter- 
minate about two inches from the extremity of the tad* 
The tail is not comprefied as in the eels, but round, ;,n 
fimbriated, with no fins ; neither the anal nor dorfai read* 
ing to its extremity f. g 
There are feveral other kinds of fea-ferpents, f ofll 
fpotted, and others red ; but as thefe are moftly iolt ^ 
* Serpens Marinus. Rondel. Sea ferpent, Will. IC 7 * 
| Willough. page 108. 
