New-York tribune., 1905-06-18
By FREDERIC A. LUCAS
of The of Brooklyn Institute of
Arts and


no such animal exists. | will not
say that they are wrong; but it
certainly seems TO not unlikely that they may
he mistaken: for undeniably a far greater
OF testimony IN the creatures behalf has been
placed on record than would be necessary to prove
any ordinary in a court of law. Let give
the sea-serpent the fair chance 1t deserves, render
ing Judgment on the evidence just as if any other
question was under consideration
1t is not necessary to prove that the is
serpent In my opinion if it exists, it almost
tanlv is not a snake, and probably not a reptile
at all Supposing that there IS such animal it
may be gigantic fish of peculiar form, yet
known to science; 1t may be mammal, or 1t may
be even a mollusk. These various possibilities |
presently shall have opportunity to discuss.
Meanwhile let consider the question whether
there is anv known animal that corresponds to the
familiar descriptions OF the sea-serpent-
tions which. 1t must be admitted. agree to sur
IyTising extent. The reply must be a negative as
far as any creature recognized as surviving IS
concerned. But the other hand. there IS one
animal supposed be extinct but possibly not so,
which If 1t still lives, would answer to all important
Specifications IN the case refer the zeuglodon.
We have excellent reasons for believing that the
zeuglodon a mammal related to the modern tribe
of seals ceased exist before the close of the early
Tertiary, TO which period it belonged; but we can
not be perfectly sure.
1t Is hardly necessary say that the seaserpent,
If II exists is be recognized a single indi
Vldual behed from time to time as II travels through
various seas but as gigantic marine species, pos
siblv not uncommon IN the depths OF the ocean,
though rarely at the surface. The creature,
according to popular tradition, IS seventy feet or
more in length; 1t has enormously long tail; its
head flour five feet long perhaps) is small IN
proportion its vast bulk, and owing to the pc
cl1iar structure of the neck is reared easily TO
considerable height above the water.
This description corresponds perfectly to that
Of the zeuglodon, whose bones found to-day
scattered along southern coasts, IN Alabama and
elsewhere. In its day 1t numerous species
inhabiting the marine shadows. Undoubtedly 1t
was exceedingly predatory and feroC1ous. 1t pos
sessed two powerful fippers in front, for use IN
swimming (many a sea-serpent IS credited with
such fiippers by the way), and along It's neck were
arranged in pairs number OF large, bony, scale
like plates
1t IS not necessary to go back into the geologic
past however. in order to find animal which,
making due allowance for errors of human obser-
vation NAV be regarded as presenting ta1r like
ness to the traditional sea-serpent Such creature
now lives-the calamary giant squd- 1t IS a
1noIl11sk related to the common cuttleflshes, and
while rare and little known, IS certainly one OF the
largest and most formidable OF existing creatures
A full-grown specimen has eyes loot IN diameter
the largest ewes probably that ever belonged TO an
animal unless the ichthyosaur be eNcepted-and IN
addition to eight shorter arms it possesses two
mighty tentacles sixty to eighty feet IN length,
with which to grasp its prey. The poor fisherman
Of the Indian Ocean greatly breads this monster.
Such squids are comparatively plentiful IN those
seas, and he never knows at what moment ne may