31 
strati other parts quite dry and uncovered. The colour of the part seen was 
he bottoi green, with a light and dark shade, and the skin was ribbed.” 
Supposing this most extraordinary account to be true—and it is presumed 
U PP®» that it would not have been admitted into a scientific journal without 
t rising; some authentication—the circumstances are entirely consistent with each 
might* other, and lead forcibly to the conclusion that the crew of this vessel did 
j really witness the rare sight of some vast pelagic monster, “ natans ” in 
stvestijj! gurgite vasto. The object was first seen four points on the bow, and it 
ay,kw took the vessel two hours and three quarters at eight miles an hour 
lfreqti (equal to twenty-two miles) to change its bearing four points, and get 
ngeltni abreast of it. Supposing the estimated size to be an approximation, the 
phenol® object when first seen must have been at furthest six or seven miles off’ 
;edanili and was therefore swimming two-thirds as fast as the vessel sailed. This 
hermep change of position precludes the possibility of refractive phenomena, or 
ntionk °f the object seen having been the hull of a vessel, or a dead whale ; and 
idLapM the absence of blowing disfavours the idea of a living cetaceous creature. 
lonsters, The colour, the ribbed appearance, and the general form as shown in the 
sentljji sketch, do not oppose the supposition that this monstrous being belonged 
coast! the cephalopoda, which are known to swim rapidly, the tentacula at 
such time being below the surface. 
ae notices Something of a similar appearance is mentioned by Dr. Hibbert, as 
1 male to having been seen at a distance from the shore of the island of Barra. « It 
seemed,” according to the declaration of witnesses taken on affidavit, “ like 
the hull of a large vessel, but on approaching it nearer, they saw it was 
aptatf infinitely larger, and resembled the back of a monster.” 
fromlfe* ^ * s * n reac ^ n S“ these strange accounts that the idea of a connection 
ter oi«& between the mysterious vigia of the Atlantic, and the half-revealed crea- 
1 ^ tures of its depths is suggested. There is a strange similarity between 
^ ^ some of the recorded instances of supposed rocks in mid-ocean, and such 
E, I stories as the above. 
ie“P? 
Thus we have the ship “ Indemnity,” in 1829, when on her way to De- 
& merara, m lat. 43° 20' N., long. 25° 10' W., discovering a rock distant about 
3 ^ ff three ship’s lengths—the ship going two and a half knots an hour, with a 
8,111 , heavy N.W. swell. With each succeeding swell the rock was entirely 
A trflj Jill-' ^ # 
T covered, but at intervals it showed several feet above the water, and was 
perfectly perpendicular. From the mast head it was seen a great depth 
, below the water, and appeared to be in the shape of a cone, 
eep ^ Again, Captain Livingston says Gough’s rocks were seen in lat. 40° 28' 
bo^ 11(11 N., long. 30° W.; one of them twelve and the other three feet above the 
water. The Devil’s Rocks, about lat. 46° 35' N., long. 13° T W., are 
