The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-04-30
VOICE OF FREEDOM.
Brandon: Thursday April 80, 1915.
THINGS AT WASHINGTON.
Continued

mas (Whlch nave no iealneTSJaS represent
ted there. One Shark ten fee. long, and
a Florida Alligator IL feel long; and ap-
p%arently an old settler:-deposited there
in ls43. Turtles, from 800 lbs. weight,
down to l,2 ID, as would be judged from
appearances ofshells and variously form.
ed. Frogs Of a variety of species, some
of which were Of monslroas size. The
thought occurred 10 me while looking at
the largest, that he would have made a
full meal for Judge Mech, Of Shelburne !
The Poreupine FISH was a curious look
ing animal; being formed much like a
plump Pear;-l4 to l6 inches in dame
ter one way, and near two feet the other.
This was the most awkwardly formed fish
for going ahead, that l saw; the fore part
Of the body being as round as the half of
an apple, with head drove IN out Of sight
two short fins placed nearly in front; the
tail part short, with a rudder'fn appended,
and a short stud, with a fin attached, pro-
truding upwards, a few inches forward of
the extremity of the tail: Two very small
eyes were to be seen in the front Of the
body; and the whole surface of the body
was .hickly studded with thorns of a bony
substance, and apparently l l.2 inches in
length. The only defence this non.des-
cript could have made 10 an attack from a
large fish mus, have been by the thorns
with which it was covered; and this rep
resentatiye seemed TO say;-"No matter
how 1 tumble. | am guarded a. all points
from attack, and only give mt my food,
and | will live a jolly life" This fish
was taken a, Martinique, and presented
at this Department in Sept. l845.
The Sea Leopard or Seal, was ar in
terestiug looking animal to behold. As
| was passing between the centre tier of
Glass Cases, which range lenglhwise of
The room, and one which stands the other
way, my attention was suddenly drawn to
the head of an animal, of huge size, and
which, to appearance, was just ready to
reach out its paw and bring the passer by
into its lovely embrace! The head very
much resem5led in form, that Of an over
grown land leopard; and, when my eye
had caught a glimpse OF lhis one, | was
not long detained from seeing what else
was in this Glass Gage. On examining,
| saw four stuffed skins OF these animals,
ranging from 8 l Q up 10 IL feet in length;
& as judged, the largest weighed, when
ali We, moi less than 1900 lbs. On con-
versing with one ofthe Dissectors, or one
of the men who prepare the skins of the
various kinds Of animals represented there,
as TO the probable weight Of the largest
Seal, when living, he remarked that i:
must have exceeded my estimate. This
animal is very compactly formed; appar>
emily possessed of great strength. but slow
TO move, unless it be in the water. The
fore legs were very short, and the feet bet
ter adapted TO creeping, than to swimming;
Sut the hind legs. or films, indicated good
.propellers in the water.
A Porpoise, three feet long, and weigh.
ing about 100 lbs, was represented in one
of the Cases. Land and Water serpenls
Of various sizes and species were also to
be seen.
A Black Orang's stuffed skin was
there, which was about A l~2 feet in
height; thick set, and showed that the
owner OF that hide must have been a hard
customer for a common man 10 encounter.
While gazing at this covering of what
was once strength and agility, the thought
occurred to me that this animal might,
with some propriety, be termed an inter>
mediate link between man and the brute
creation.
Animals of the Bat species, from the
size Of Chip squirrel to a good sized
House Cat. This was the appearance when
the film was not expanded. Some Of the
expanded SKINS showed an extension of
wing from tip to tip, OF about two feet and
some l8 inches the other way. Persons
having seen no other kind but the common
House Bat, can see quite a contrast on
looking at the representatives named.
Cta,t ,or;atu - paruvion and ofhar !