38 
seen on various parts of the coast, especially near Storforen, at the Kerg- 
vang island. The fishermen had been greatly alarmed, and in their terror 
guessed the creature’s length at 600 to 800 ells, for when people were 
near its head they could not see its tail; the greatest thickness was near 
the head. 
Mr. Mitford, who travelled in Norway in 1841, had his curiosity ex¬ 
cited by the reports of the sea serpent; and, though disbelieving its exist¬ 
ence himself, remarks that two seafaring men had lately deponed on oath 
to having seen it six miles from Molde. It held its head like that of a 
horse, two feet above the water—was of a grayish colour, mouth black, 
very large black eyes, and whitish mane that hung down from its neck to 
the water; they saw seven or eight folds about a fathom apart; and as 
far as they could judge at a distance, estimated its length at 600 feet. 
Mitford adds a note, to say that, since the publication of his travels, he 
had received a letter from an intelligent friend at Bergen, of which the 
following is an extract:—“ I have consulted a gentleman of much learning 
and intimate knowledge of every thing belonging to Norway, Stifftamta- 
mund Christie, whose name is so much connected with the political in¬ 
stitutions of Norway since 1814. I especially asked his opinion about 
the sea serpent, and he assured me that not only do the peasants feel cer¬ 
tain of its existence, but that he himself believes it—that the bishop of 
Bergen, a few years ago published an article in an antiquarian paper, 
which comes out occasionally, edited by the directors of the Bergen 
museum, containing information corroborative of this belief: that the in¬ 
habitants of the island Herroe at Sandmor, see the serpent every year for 
a couple of months in summer, whenever the weather is fine and the sea 
calm.” 
Such are the Norwegian testimonies, agreeing with the American de¬ 
scriptions in some things, especially in the appearances taking place only 
in calm, fine, and warm weather ; in other points they differ, and upon 
the whole seem to refer to an animal of larger size and less ophidian in 
its characters. The facts gathered from the shores of the British isles 
are few but important. Dr. Hibbert declares that the great sea serpent 
has occasionally been recognised in the Shetland seas, and specifies one 
which was seen off Stromness. 
The most authentic statement is that by the Rev. Mr. M‘Clean, parish 
minister of Eigg, one of the Western islands, and addressed by him to 
the secretary of the Wernerian Society, dated 1809:— 
«I saw the animal of which you inquire in June 1808, on the coast of 
