APPENDIX. 
137 
of the old Oolitic period. These facts indicate that 
this continent has not undergone the same successive 
changes as the Old World. There the changes are 
comparatively recent, and the upneaving of mountains 
and formation of valleys have put an end to many 
animals of which we find living representatives on 
the continent of North America. 
“ Among the fossils of Europe of the period during 
which the gar-pike existed there, and when the Ich¬ 
thyosauri and Plesiosauri existed also, there were 
also sharks with flat teeth, such as are found now 
on the south-west coast of New Holland. I have 
asked myself, in connection with this subject, wheth¬ 
er there is not such an animal as the Sea-Serpent. 
There are many who will doubt the existence of 
such a creature ur^til it can be brought under the 
dissecting-knife ; but it has been seen by so many on 
whom we may rely, that it is wrong to doubt any 
longer. The truth is, however, that if a naturalist 
had to sketch the outlines .of an Ichthyosaurus or 
Plesiosaurus from the remains we have of them, he 
would make a drawing very similar to the Sea-Ser¬ 
pent as it has been described. There is reason 
to think that the parts are soft and perishable, but I 
still consider it probable that it will be the good for¬ 
tune of some person on the coast of Norway or 
North America to find a living representative of this 
type of reptile, which is thought to have died out.” 
The following extract from a letter from one of 
the most distinguished merchants of Boston is w orthy 
of the highest consideration : — 
u Boston, April 26, 1849. 
“ I have never had any doubt of the existence of 
the Sea-Serpent since the morning he was seen off 
Nahant by old Martial Prince, through his famous 
mast-head spy-glass. For, within the next two hours, 
I conversed with Mr. Samuel Cabot, and Mr. Daniel 
