1848 Sea Serpent Monster Hms Daedalus

by Paul D Stewart

Title

1848 Sea Serpent Monster Hms Daedalus

Artist

Paul D Stewart

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Illustrated London News, October 28, 1848. On 6 August 1848, Midshipman Sartoris of HMS Daedalus alerted the Captain, first lieutenant, and sailing master to the approach of a large creature. Captain Peter M'Quhae, described it in his report to the Admiralty: It was discovered to be an enormous serpent, with head and shoulders kept about four feet constantly above the surface of the sea. there was at the very least sixty feet of the animal a fleur d'eau no portion of which was, to our perception, used in propelling it through the water, either by vertical or horizontal undulation. It passed rapidly, but so close under our lee quarter that had it been a man of my acquaintance I should have easily recognised the features with the naked eye". M'Quhae collaborated with an illustrator to produce a series of engravings of the encounter. Zoologist Richard Owen suggested an elephant seal."

Uploaded

June 27th, 2016

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags