ON THE 
CREDIBILITY OE THE EXISTENCE OE THE KRAKEX, 
SEA SERPENT, AND OTHER SEA MONSTERS. 
SECTION I. 
Remarks on Past and Present State op Naturae History—Use op the word 
“ Monster”—Frequent Illusory Appearances at Sea—Also some Mysteries 
unresolved—Vigia—Description op—Instances—Aitkin’s Rock. 
f* The animals which inhabit the sea are much less known to us than those found 
upon land, and the economy of those we are best acquainted with is much less under¬ 
stood ; we are therefore too often obliged to reason from analogy where information 
fails, which must probably ever continue to be the case, from our unfitness to pursue 
our researches in the unfathomable waters.”—J ohn Hunter. 
Thus spoke the celebrated John Hunter, when treating of the cetaceous 
tribes, and his remark is used prefatory to the following pages, that the 
author’s claim on the indulgence of his readers may be strengthened while 
pursuing a subject connected, perhaps, with that of the great anatomist, 
but whereof the data are still more scanty, and the recourse to analogy 
therefore the more necessary. The reader must also endeavour to dismiss 
from his mind the associations of incredulity and jocularity which the very 
names of sea serpent and kraken are calculated to awaken, and to lend 
himself dispassionately to the earnest though inexpert attempt to pluck up 
truth even from the deep abyss. 
Among the several characteristics by which the present century will 
hereafter be honourably remembered, the dissipation of prejudice, and the 
correction of popular errors will not be the least. In all matters connected 
with the sciences, old beliefs, however hallowed by time, are scrutinized anew; 
a new hypothesis is deservedly rejected from arranged systems, theories 
are guardedly built up by the severe process of inductive reasoning, and all 
