the Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Sir B. Harwood:-"In carnivorous quadrupeds the structure of the bones in the nasal cavity is more intricate than in the herbivorous, and is calculated to afford a far more extensive surface for the distribution of the nerve. In the Seal this conformation is most fully developed, and the bony plates are here not turbinated, but ramified as shown in the woodcut. Eight or more principal branches arise from the main trunk, and each of these is afterwards divided and subdivided to an extreme degree of minuteness, so as to form in all many hundred plates. The olfactory membrane, with all its nerves, is closely applied to every plate in this vast assemblage, as well as to the main trunk, and to the internal surface of the surrounding cavity, so that its extent cannot be less than 120 square inches in each nostril. An organ of such exquisite sensibility requires an extraordinary provision for securing it against injury, and Nature has supplied a mechanism for the purpose, enabling the animal to close at pleasure the orifice of the nostril."*

Roget, Bridgewater Treatise, vol. ii. p. 402.

GROUP II.

THE HERBIVOROUS CETACEA.

Of the fabled nymphs, 'tis foolishly declared

They chase the warrior shark, the cumbrous whale,
And guard the mermaid in her briny vale.

OUR declining space prevents us from saying more on the classification of this small and interesting group than what has already appeared in the Introduction. Though individuals belonging to it exist in large herds in many quarters of the globe, yet, till within a few years, not one had been seen in the civilized world, nor had any correct description or delineation been supplied. And yet the most intense interest was experienced regarding the family, not only by the man of science, but by the public at large. There can be no doubt that in many instances they formed the type of those ideal objects of ancient poetry, the tritons, half men and half fish, who had power, forsooth, to calm the stormy surge, and probably, too, of the syrens, those sea nymphs whose

melody charmed the entranced voyager to his destruction! The fancies of the northern nations were not less imaginative. "Beneath the depths of the ocean, an atmosphere exists adapted to the respiring organs of certain beings resembling, in form, the human race, who are possessed of surpassing beauty, of limited supernatural powers, and liable to the incidents of death. They dwell in a wide territory of the globe far below the region of fishes, over which the sea, like the cloudy canopy of our sky, loftily rolls, and there they possess habitations constructed of the pearly and coralline productions of the ocean. Having lungs not adapted to a watery medium, but to the nature of atmospheric air, it would be impossible for them to pass through the volume of waters that intervenes between the submarine and the supramarine world, if it were not for their extraordinary power of entering the skin of some animal capable of existing in the sea. One shape they put on is that of an animal human above the waist, yet terminating below in the tail of a fish; and thus possessing an amphibious nature, they are enabled not only to exist in the ocean, but to land on the shores, where they frequently lighten themselves of their sea dress, resume their proper shape, and with much curiosity examine the nature of this upper world."*

But we must endeavour to give our readers a nearer view of these wondrous creatures. Not

* Hibbert's Shetland Islands, 4to, p. 566.

many years ago the Wernerian Natural History Society (and to its praise we tell it) publicly offered a prize of considerable pecuniary value to the individual who would first present them with one of these far-famed animals; and by many this offer was regarded as a proof of weakness and credulity. Not long afterwards, however, the following statements appeared in one of the periodicals of the day, for the general truth of which, from personal knowledge of some of the parties, we can vouch. "A short while ago it was reported that a fishing boat, off the island of Yell, one of the Shetland group, had captured a mermaid by its getting entangled in the lines!! The statement is, that the animal was about three feet long, the upper part of the body resembling the human, with protuberant mammæ like a woman; the face, forehead, and neck, were short, and resembling those of a monkey; the arms, which were small, were kept folded across the breast; the fingers were distinct, not webbed; a few stiff long bristles were on the top of the head, extending down to the shoulders, and them it could erect and depress at pleasure, something like a crest. The inferior part of the body was like a fish. The skin was smooth, and of a grey colour. It offered no resistance, nor attempted to bite, but uttered a low plaintive sound. The crew, six in number, took it within their boat, but superstition getting the better of curiosity, they carefully disentangled it from the lines, and a hook which had accidentally fastened in its body, and returned it to its native

.

element. It instantly dived, descending in a perpendicular direction."

After writing the above, (we are informed,) the narrator had an interview with the skipper of the boat and one of the crew, from whom he learned the following additional particulars. They had the animal for three hours within the boat; the body was without scales or hair; was of a silvery grey colour above, and white below, like the human skin; no gills were observed; nor fins on the back or belly. The tail was like that of the dog-fish; the mammæ were about as large as those of a woman; the mouth and lips were very distinct, and resembled the human.

This communication was from Mr Edmondston, a well known and intelligent observer, to the distinguished Professor of Natural History in the Edinburgh University, and Mr E. adds a few reflections, which are so pertinent, that we shall avail ourselves of them. "That a very peculiar animal has been taken, no one can doubt. It was seen and handled by six men, on one occasion, and for some time, not one of whom dreams of a doubt of its being a Mermaid. If it were supposed that their fears magnified its supposed resemblance to the human form, it must at all events be admitted that there was some ground for exciting these fears. But no such fears were likely to be entertained; for the Mermaid is not an object of terror to the fisherman; it is rather a welcome guest, and danger is apprehended only from its experiencing bad treatment. The