57 
carnivora of the submarine world before the gases of corruption could float 
it to the surface, the bones probably cartilaginous, and dissolving away 
long ere the slow currents of ocean could carry them up the steep ascent 
of the submarine gorges of the Norwegian mountain coast (the most pro¬ 
bable habitat of the sea-serpent) to the shore, it is quite explicable how no 
recognisable remains of it should as yet have been discovered. If, on the 
other hand, the unknown thing should be a saurian, we may already have 
looked upon its relics in some of the fossils of that numerous race. But 
in respect of the absence of the remains of a particular class of creatures, 
have we not an example in man himself? While every ancient animal tribe 
has left its form as a record of its existence, and even the insects and 
creeping things of a past creation have inscribed their slight but in¬ 
delible marks on the rock, where is the material witness of antediluvian 
man ? There is none ; not a bone or a fragment of himself, nor a trace 
of his handiwork, is found; although his race, strong in the fresh and 
newly-implanted principle of life, as testified in his longevity, and excel¬ 
ling in both the useful and ornamental arts, spread itself during nearlv 
2000 years over the face of at least one-fourth of the earth’s surface. 
Yet, bowing with humbleness before the revelation of the Deity himself, 
we believe that man did exist before the Flood, and did many mighty works. 
The more closely we examine the annals of natural history, and the 
records of creation, whether past or present, the more are we impressed 
with the conviction that the whole earth has been prepared for the exist¬ 
ence of organic life, and the living creature adapted to its habitation. If 
we ascend the mountain ranges, we find the animal and vegetable races of 
the lower elevations replaced by others endowed with forms and functions 
conformable to their abode, until nature herself becomes benumbed by 
all-conquering cold. If we descend to the depths of the sea, as far as 
examination has been practicable, we find the same gradation; in respect 
of size, each tribe appears to have a place in the scale of depth most favour¬ 
able for its development, above or below which increase of dimension is 
arrested. So well known is this to the ichthyologist, that to facilitate 
arrangement, he classifies the inhabitants of the waters into “ surface, 
mid-water, and ground fish.” The unread fisherman acts practically on 
the same truth ; he does not look for cod near the surface, nor bait for 
mackerel at the bottom. 
If, then, the last eight or ten years have added to our catalogue of the 
denizens of the waters many varieties, even among the “ upper classes,” 
some of which are of sufficient bulk to excite surprise that only now they 
