PREFACE. 
The Sea-Serpent, or Ichthyosaurus, is a Massachusetts fish, 
recognized as such in more than one work on Ichthyology. Tts 
habits are, therefore, worthy of investigation. It is presumed 
that two thousand persons in New England have seen the Ser¬ 
pent, or at least suppose that they have seen him, which is 
equally satisfactory. The author, not having had the good for¬ 
tune to enroll himself among this favored number, does not pre¬ 
tend to give any opinion with regard to the animal, but simply 
offers the result of his investigations on this vexed question, and 
leaves it to the reader to decide fbr himself. This romance, 
written in an off-hand way, is designed to show in a more prom¬ 
inent light some of the peculiar traits in the character of this 
Saurian. The author and the printer have done their best to 
make it prose ; if the reader makes anything else of it, like An¬ 
drew Jackson, he must take the responsibility. I am deeply in¬ 
debted to Professor Agassiz and Amos Lawrence, Esq., for their 
valuable letters on this subject, which will be found under their 
proper head. The designs for the engravings were made by 
Lieut. H. C. Flagg, U. S. N., drawn by Billings, and engraved 
by Marsh. 
Cambridge, Aug. 4, 1849. 
TO ALL THOSE WHO 
RESIDE 
AT THE SEA-SIDE, 
PRESIDE 
AT THE FIRE-SIDE, 
OR RIDE 
ON THE BLUE TIDE 
OVER 
THE OCEAN WIDE, 
THIS LITTLE BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 
BY 
THE AUTHOR. 
v 
