Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-30

turtle, and having the head of lizard, the
feet or crocodile, neck like q serpent thirty
feet long, the ribs Of chameleon and the pad
dles OF whale.
THE MOST REMARKABLE ON RECORD.
The 'glistening eye" Of the monster is point
particularly mentioned in the accounts given Of
what was In some respects the most remarkable
appearance of the sea serpen. on record,
inasmuch as the creature was viewed by
thousands of people coincidently. 1t selected
as the spot FOR exhibiting itself the bay of Ma
hsnt-that staid and sober place which has been
described as "a slice of cold roast Boston"
The season was summer, in the year 1913, and
the weather was pleasant and calm so that the
crowds which gathered on the shore were able
to observe the great 'snake" to the utmost adj
vantage, as 1t swan about between two projecting
headlands, coming SO near the beach as to cause
many OF the spectators to retreat affrighted. II
appeared to be about eighty feet long, of q dark
color and held its head two feet out of water,
through which it progressed at the speed Of an
advancing to within 100 feet Of the land and
went seward its snake-like form became appar-
ent. the body bending like an cells. 1t was fol-
lowed for miles along shore by people afoot and
in carriages.
THE OCTOPUS.
In the same apartment at the National
Museum with the model of the monster previ-
ously described is hideous reproduction in
papier mache of that other frightful mollusk.
the pouip, or octopus, the specimen represented
having spread of sixteen feet This creature
chooses for It's haunt some dark Granny in the
rocks, where it lies in wait, clinging with three
or four OF its great arms, while the others, wav-
ing, gliding and feeling about in the water are
on the alert to grasp any prey. The Chinese
regard such octopods, big and little, as q great
delcacy for eating, and they are similarly
rp hon in fhor,. - H.
the Mediterranean numerous species Of them.
mostly OF small size, IRE fished for, and along
the coast of Algeria they are caught in q very
curious fashion. by means Of earthsn Jugs sunk
In the water. Probably because the poulp is
a soft-bodied animal and therefore an easy prev
for many enemies it will eagerly take advantage
OF an opportunity to seek shelter in a jug, from
the mouth Of which it can spread its tentacles
for prey. Accordingly it is not uncommon for
the fishermen, on hauling up these queer traps
after few hours. to find every one Of them
occupied by an octopus. In the graves of the
ancient Peruvians. inclosed with the mummies,
are found quite frequently objects which were
at first ignorantly supposed to be dessicated
human eyes. Az matter Of fact. however,
they are the corneal parts Of the eyes Of the
octopi, which must have been regarded by these
people as charms of great value.
WHAT THE FUTURE MAY SHOW.
II there is a sea serpent, presumably one will
be taken alive or dead some time Then it will
be known by it's teeth what it feeds upon and
whether it is dangerous or not. Its habits will
be duly determined and it will be ascertained
whether or not its bite is poisonous. One rea-
son why the bites Of the yenomous marine
snakes of eastern apt to result fatally is
that no severe pain follows them immediately,
as with those inflicted by the cobra and the rat
tlesnake, and SO no prompt remedial measures
are taken. DR.. Stejneger tells me that he and
handling dead serpents of dangerous species
which have been preserved in spirits or other
wise. The venom is not injured BY alcohol and
it VIII last indefinitely without deteriorating
when dry. A little scratch from fang of
water moccasin which had been killed and bot
tied years previously might cause death. Some
poison from a former bite remaining on the
tooth or small quantity of venom from the
poison bag getting into cut would be likely to
produce equally serious results. RENE BACHE.