[ [31] ] See illustration, p. 67.
[ [32] ] It must be noted, however, that in almost every case, except that of the Osborne, the paddles were supposed, not seen, and were invented to account for an animal of great length progressing at the surface of the water at the rate of twelve to fifteen miles an hour without its being possible to perceive, upon the closest and most attentive inspection, any undulatory movement to which its rapid advance could be ascribed. As the great calamaries were unknown, their mode of swift retrograde motion, by means of an outflowing current of water, was of course unsuspected.
[ [33] ] Dr. Gray wrote in his 'Synopsis of Genera of Reptiles,' in the Annals of Philosophy, 1825: "There is every reason to believe from general structure that there exists an affinity between the tortoises and the snakes; but the genus that exactly unites them is at present unknown to European naturalists; which is not astonishing when we consider the immense number of undescribed animals which are daily occurring. If I may be allowed to speculate from the peculiarities of structure which I have observed, I am inclined to think that the union will most probably take place by some newly discovered genera allied to the marine or fluviatile soft-skinned turtles and the marine serpent."
[ [34] ] Berosus, lib. i. p. 48.
[ [35] ] Nahum iii. 8.
[ [36] ] 1 Samuel v. 4.
[ [37] ] 'Paradise Lost,' Book i. l. 462.
[ [38] ] Some writers are of the opinion that the legend of Oannes contains an allusion to the rising and setting of the sun, and that his semi-piscine form was the expression of the idea that half his time was spent above ground, and half below the waves. The same commentators also regard all the "civilizing" gods and goddesses as, respectively, solar and lunar deities. The attributes symbolized in the worship of Noah and the sun are so nearly alike that the two interpretations are not incompatible.
[ [39] ] 'Opera Omnia,' tom. ii. p. 884, edit. Bened. de Dea. Syr.
[ [40] ] Lib. i. cap. cv.