Commander Gould has attained considerable fame in connection with his two previous books, "Oddities" and "Enigmas," both of which are very happy combination of instruction and amusement. In this, his third book, he haw. been more ambitious and appears a definite. protagonist for the reality of the "sea-serpent™ or rather of a beast like plesiosaurus of which the forepart resembles that of a immense snake.
He has marshalled the evidence im a most convincing manner and it is difficult to refuse assent to his thesis, which is presented in a very' moderate and reasonable form, This particular subject is associated with a definite "non-credo" complex which makes it almost difficult to discuss as religion or politics. In actuality there is only, one objection to the reality of the "sea-serpent" and that is the rarity: of its alleged appearances. That in fact there are reasonably con cordant accounts of numerous apbearances is fully demonstrated by Commander Gould and he certainly makes out a primi facie case for reality.
One of his strongest arguments is that based on buoyancy consider-lations. It seems beyond question, that the projecting part of a marine animal, some two fect or more in diameter and extending not less than ten feet above the water, has been seen to move steadily for such long time that it must be statieally "balanced. The necess-ates enormous body below the ware so that no matter what the beast may be there can be no doubt about ats size, The author discusses very carefully all the conceivable solutions ing problem, Tt would.
to detail in w review his, contentions, Suffice it to say that the whole book is most readable and. entertaining.
Problems of veridity and credulity, peculiarly awkward. Cranky, ts and immovable sceptic:
Fort yor otherwise the "la serpent" i not a matter of fife and death end the question is ultimately one of observation. the very least this book shawld the ocean traveller more obs und give him the hope of something "really nev" even these sophisticated Jays. Every company should pro-ships? Libraries with this istrations have teen cares fully selected with a view to nating mere efforts of the imagines tion and the whole production con= forms to the high standard of the books previously issued by this bube
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.