Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-19
THE SEA sERP ENT.
pHom rHr sosros JouasAI.

Vsiters ut Nshant Hull and other places along the
shoe who repaired thher in anticipation Of the annual visit
Of the seren have had dark cloud cast their
pectaons by the reported capture Of Of his snakeshp
progeny, by Capt Burr related in our paper day or
two snce and the consequent approximations that by
revenge, the old patriarch would whdray himself entirely
from shores We rejoice, however be able to furnish
ground for the belief that their fears unfounded which
do in the following narrative:
The dsy after the publication Of the capture Of this young
serpent old whaeman, who has ssed in every called
upon and stated that among the Rosemary Islands the
Northwestern Of New Holland serpents corresponding
n every respect the description of the captured by
Capt Burr are found in great numbers They about
twenty feet long. and five six inches in diameter. Some
times their bodies will be found dstended to the sire Of
large bucket which leads the belief that the reptile sucks
bolts its food WHOLE There is particular in which the
water snake differs from the land snake, except that
the tail Is furnished with ukes. Another pecaiary Of this
reptile s the power which has Of contracting the substance
of the body within the skin Instances mentioned to
by friend, the whaeman, in which boats had made
fast these snakes and after hauling them the gunwae
the fesby portion Of the body would be contracted and entire
ly withdrawn from the boat leaving nothing to hold to
but the skin There doubt in the mind of the gentle
alluded to that the snake received New York Of the
species the snakes abundant the Of New
Holland, and that has relation to the serpent pro-
per. full account Of these New Holland snakes pub
shed in the London Spectator four five years since,
and furnished BY the officers Of the English Surveying
Expedition.
We confes that the information Of our friend has done
y
which caused by perung the Of the capture Of
the serpent which has arrived at New York. It strengthens
faith that the serpent viii make his annual visit of
exploration to shores and will delight the eyes Of those
wonder-seekers who sufficiently waichfu by allowing
them glimpse Of bis fair and graceful proportions But fur
ther the story Of friend serious troubles
which had arisen 10 our mind. We had always supposed
his snakeshp be confirmed respectable old bachelor and
when read of Mrs. Snake, with from hum
dred snd twenty hundred and fifty little snakes, the
New York captain would have believe confess that
faih unequal to the task imposed upon IL and
giving up entire belief in the reality of any
such the serpent Happily the clouds have
been removed Our faith in serpent yet bghtand
strong, and have equal faith that be will agan honor our
shores with bis presence.
Since the above n type have met with the follow
ing paragraph which published n the New York Journal
Of Commerce, over the signature Of 3. T. c.:
Attracted by the notice your paper Of Wednesday Of
the infant serpent, at the Marine Surveyors Office
called there, and the specimen to be aps Of fish
fish it certainly s having nothing Of reptile charac-
ter about i) unknown natusls.s, though rare on
these you will take he trouble look into torers
Fishes Of Massachusetts, Dr. DeKays Of the fishes
Of this State in the State survey you will in either Of them
find rather meager description, but toersby exact figure o.
the animal in question, described Fstularia serraiahe
American Pipe-fsh"