The Zoologist/4th series, vol 6 (1902)/Issue 730/Editorial Gleanings
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
The Bishop of Carpentaria has contributed to 'Nature Notes' some interesting narrative of a journey through Central Australia. We are told that "one of the great enemies of the overland telegraph line is the common Green Frog (probably Hyla ewingii). In order to save the insulators from being broken by the lightning, they are provided with wire 'droppers' leading round them at a little distance to conduct on to the iron pole in case of need. The Frogs climb the poles, and find the insulars cool and pleasant to their bodies, and fancy that the 'dropper' is put there to furnish them with a back seat. After a nap they yawn, and stretch out a leg until it touches the pole—result, sudden death of the Frog; and, as the body continues to conduct the current to earth, we have a paragraph in the papers to the effect 'that in consequence of an interruption to the lines, probably caused by a cyclonic disturbance in the interior, we are unable to present our readers with the usual cables from England'!"
At the Meeting of the Zoological Society, on March 18th, Dr. H. Gadow, F.R.S., F.Z.S., read a paper "On the Evolution of Horns and Antlers." He stated that three main types could be distinguished in the evolution of the ornamental weapons on the heads of Ruminants, and that all these types were referable to an ancient condition in which the beginning weapon, be it one of offence or defence, appeared as a mere exostosis with a thickened skin-pad. This stage resembled that of Dinoceras of the Eocene. Secondly, there was found exostosis of the frontal bone producing a pedicle, surmounted by a cartilaginous mass of apical growth, which by subsequent basal ossification became an antler. Skin originally unaltered and hairy; this, and the chondrostoma or cartilaginous later osseous growth, was shed periodically, and constituted the Cervine type.
A side issue of Type II. was that of pro-Giraffe-like animals. Cartilaginous growth preponderant, with multiple and broadened bases. Ossification delayed, but still proceeding from the base, e.g. the Samotherium of the topmost Miocene. A further development of this type (II.a) was shown by the Giraffe, in which the outgrowth proliferated freely and now formed free growths, ossifying independently, of the cranial bones, but ultimately fusing with them.
Type III. was a continuation of the main line from II., represented by the Prongbuck; predominant epidermal growth produced a hornshoe, which was periodically shed, but had abolished the shedding of the bony core which represented the antler.
Type IV., the highest stage, was represented by the hollow-horned Ruminants, in which the horn-shoe was now a permanent feature; but it was important to note that these animals still shed the first, or earliest, generation of the horny sheath. Horns and antlers were developed alike with a cartilaginous matrix, with subsequent ossification.
These four types were an illustration of onward phyletic evolution, and these stages were still faithfully repeated in the development of the recent species: this was a clear instance where ontogeny was a shortened recapitulation of phylogeny.
With most zoologists we neither affirm nor deny the possible existence of large sea-serpents at present unknown; on this question we are distinctly agnostic. From time to time we are treated in the newspapers with yarns, hasty and mistaken observations, and legends, anent this mythical animal. The following cutting from the 'Pall Mall Gazette' (Sept. 27th last) is worth reproduction for comparison with similar reports, and is given sans comment:—
"We have received the following letter from Mr. Oliver G. Ready, of the Chinese Customs. It has reference to a very old friend. Lappa, from which the letter comes, is close to the mouth of the Canton River:—
"Sir,—With the Commissioner's approval, I enclose copy of an official report made by Mr. Officer-in-Charge Wolfe on a monster sea-serpent seen by him when on patrol duty. Mr. Wolfe has been in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs service for nine years, and is now in charge of the armed revenue launch 'Lungtsing,' a vessel of one hundred tons and fourteen knots speed. He is most steady and trustworthy, and in every way to be believed. His testimony is, moreover, confirmed in writing by the second officer, and all of the 'Lungtsing's' Chinese crew who were on deck at the time. I have had a long conversation with Mr. Wolfe, and carefully sifted his evidence. You may rest assured that this is not a yarn, but a true and unvarnished account. Chuk Chao Islands are about twenty miles south-west of Hong-Kong, with ten to twelve fathoms of water. There had recently been very heavy weather in the China Seas.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Oliver G. Ready.
"The Sea-Serpent.—On Sunday, Aug. 18th, 1901, at 11.20 a.m., as the Chinese Customs cruising launch 'Lungtsing' was steaming at half-speed heading for Boddam Cove, Tungho Island, in lat. N. 22 deg. 8 min. 30 sec. and long. E. 113 deg. 48 min. 40 sec, at about ten cables' length from the Chuk Chao Islands, I sighted a dark object on the surface of the water one point on the starboard bow, which looked to me like a rock. I at once gave the order 'full speed astern,' and vessel passed about thirty feet clear of the object, which, to my surprise, was a large serpent, lying in a round coil, with its head raised two or three feet, and slightly moving. Stopped engines and lowered starboard gig. I despatched Mr. Kuster, second officer, in gig with orders to kill the monster, if possible. Mr. Kuster stood in bow of gig with a boathook ready to strike. The serpent had now lowered its head again, but on approach of the gig suddenly struck out, hitting blade of one of the oars, turning the sailor turtle-back. It then raised its head to a level of launch's davit, about 15 ft., at a distance of not more than 10 ft. from the gig and 30 ft. from the launch where I stood. The crew of gig were scared, and prepared to jump overboard. Mr. Kuster, still standing in bow of the gig, prepared to strike with the boathook; but, before he could do so, the monster suddenly dived and made off. Its action in swimming was like that of an ordinary water-snake; the water being clear, the reptile could be plainly seen a few feet down. It dived very quickly, and made considerable disturbance of the water.
"We judged the serpent to be from 40 to 50 ft. long, and about a foot in diameter. It had a kind of crest on its head, and two fins high up on the neck, just behind the jaws. The thickest part of its body appeared to be about 15 ft. from the head, tapering both ways. Its head was as big as a Rugby football, with large eyes, and mouth opened wide when striking. It was of a very dark colour on the back—striped and mottled, but lighter on the belly.
"As soon as the serpent disappeared, and we on the launch had recovered from our first surprise, I ordered the ten-barrelled Nordenfelt to be loaded, and launch moved round slowly for fifteen or twenty minutes, in hopes that the reptile would reappear; but, not doing so, vessel proceeded on her way to Boddam Cove. (Signed) F. Wolfe, Officer in charge C.L. 'Lungtsing,' Aug. 21st, 1901. Witnesses: (Signed) V. Kuster, Second Officer, and seventeen Chinese."
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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