The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-21

mediately proceeded with his curiosity for
England, stopping at the Cape Of Good Hope,
where it was submitted to the inspection oil
several English naturalists, who united in the
opinion that it is AN example of the Mermaid,
which has been generally thought to exist on
ly in the imaginations of the wonder-loving,
and in the beautiful fictions of poetry. The
animal recently exhibited at Cape-Town, was
seen and closely examined by gentleman OF
this town, whose intelligence and established
character are an ample pledge for the fidelity
of the subjoined description, which, at our
request, he politely furnished for publication -
Mn. GoDDARD-
Having read, in late Boston paper, short
and rather imperfect account Of AN animal or
fish, called the Mermaid, which has recently
been exhibited at Cape Town (Cape of Good
Hope) am induced to attempt more partic-
uiar description of this wonderful curiosity,
the existence of which has so long been deem-
ed fabulous. In furnishing you with the re-
suits OF close examination of the appear
ance and CONFEDERATION OF this wonder OF the
deep, | have to regret that my ignorance of
anatomy prevents my giving such technical
relation as would be more satisfactory to your
scientiicS readers, J. S. l..
From the improper manner in which
this curiosity has been preserved, it is
somewhat difficult to decide what might
AVE been its size when alive. In its
present situation, it is about 1-2 feet
in length from The tip of its tail TO the
cr.sn of the head-and, Judging from
lis wrinkIed, contracted stale, sbonld
presume it was foot longer when liy-
Ing. The fish part is about as large
as common sized Cod-the tail is very
leepIy forked, near fitch are two fins
on each side-the scales at the extrem-
ity arc in size like those on the fish |
have mentioned, decreasing gradually
as they approach the human part, till,
when they are joined to The bare SKIN,
they are only visible through the micro
scope. Its skin now is of dark brown
hue; but originally should think il
may have been as light coloured as that
Of Mulatto. The dimensions Of the
head and breast are those OF well-siZed
child of six months old. The upper
part of the head is perfectly human,
and remarkably well shaped indeed SO
finely formed, that its forehead and
crown would bear comparison with the
finest OF our own species. OF the low
er part, or face, it is more difficult to
Judge, from the extreme contraction
which has there taken place. Howev-
err, it has more the appearance of the
human or Holtentot visage than that OF
the Monkcy-the eyes are OF line
shape, though now deep sunk in their
sockets-the eyebrows, also, are deli
cate and handsomely curved-the nose
is better formed, and not as fiat as that
of the common African negro--the
mouth is rather large in proportion TO
the size of the head, and filled with
very white handsome teeth, perfectly
resembling the human-the two on the
upper jaw, which are called !uslls in the
Boston paper, consider the 'eye-teeth''
they are a little longer than the 9TH
ers-bnt the projection spoken of is ev-
identity caused by the contraction of the
lips-the chin corresponds with the hu-
man. and the ears also-its hair, which
IS chiefly on The back part of the head,
is OF a light brown colour, and not coars-
er than that Of an Indian; it is thinly
spread; and about three or four inches
in length-the neck is short, though not
more so in proportion to the body, than
may be seen among the varieties Of the
human race-the bust is that of finely
formed female, gracefully tapering TO
lis junction with the fsh-the breasts
are prominent, and we'll proportioned 10
the 6gure-the arms are of proper
length and shape, and lightly covered
with short fine hair, Of nearly the same
hue as that on its head-the hand is del
icately formed. with long slender fingers
on which are nails. AS handsome as those
which ornament the fair hands of any
of orr belles.n There is a fin on
each side of the body, about three
inches below the arm-pit-these are
evidently placaE there FOR the purpose
of enabling theAcrealure to maintain an
erect position in the water without the
aid Of its arms and hands, which are
thus left at liberty for defence or pro-
curing its fool.
| have thus given you the best de-
scription can of this wonder Of cre-
alton and though Iview it as decid-
ing the question of the existence of
a creature uniting the human body with
that of the fish, it is, in its appear
auce, as ua!ike the imaginary beautiful
descriptions VIC have read of the Mer-
mid. as Il Is different from any niher-