Description of a stuffed mermaid in Leith

from 'A display of Heraldry' by J Guillim, 1679.

From the Morning Advertiser, 12th October 1809.

Mr Editor,
Two accounts, recently published in several Newspapers, of the appeance of Mermaids on the coast of Caithness, and which have excited much curiosity, seem fully to desmonstrate the existence of these remarkable oceanic animals, by naturalists deemed fabulous. Both the narratives are from persons of respectability, who had themselves ridiculed the common reports of the country people, reports which, it now appears, were perfectly well founded. Nothwithstanding this, there are still sceptics who not only deride the vulgar reports, but the more accurate and well authenticated descriptions of the Ladies and Gentlemen above quoted, because no such animal has been described by naturalists. But if these learned personages will not take the trouble of going to the proper places, and making a thorough and persevering investigation, how can they expect to see these rare animals, either terrestrial or marine?

As France takes at present decidedly the lead in scientific researches, and her philosophers have made many discoveries of phenomena before believed impossible, I have no doubt but, immediately on the return of peace, Bonaparte (whose patronage of science in no inconsiderable degree counter-balances his attrocities) will station a party of savans off the coast of Caithness, to ascertain this important fact of natural history; I hope, however, he will be anticipated by our own Royal Society, and that in a short time Mr. Pidcock will be able to exhibit at his Menagerie over Exeter Change, as many Mermaids as he now does Black Swans, birds which, until the discoveries of his present Majesty's reign, were also believed to be non-existent, or at least to be equally rare as white mice, white crows, or any other lusi naturae, instead of being a distinct and numerous species.

But, say the sceptics, we hear only of Mermaids, and if they be literally all Maids, how can they generate? I am happy, sir, that it is in my power to answer this objection, and to shew incontestibly that they are male and female, like other animals.

About 38 or 40 years ago, there was exhibited at Leith races a Merman, which had been caught by a Newhaven fisherman when dragging for oysters, and was shewn for three-pence a piece, in a booth near the Glass-house. I have called it a Merman, but from its size, being only a foot and a half long, and the Mermaids of which we have had descriptions having been represented as of the ordinary size of women, this I suppose must have been a young one, and ought more properly to be termed a Merboy.

Being little skilled either in anatomy or natural history, I cannot give your readers a scientific description of this extraordinary production of the sea; but the following account, as far as it goes, you may depend on being accurate, as I examined the creature with all the attention in my power.

The head was longer in proportion to the body than the human head, and joined by a short thick neck; the hair was of a marine blue, thick and bushy; the face was covered with scales; the eyes projected like those of an haddock; the nose was broad and flat, like that of an African negro, but twice as large in proportion; the lips thin and white, and the teeth remarkably sharp; the ears were merely two valves, close to the head, doubtless wisely ordained to prevent the introduction of water. The breasts were flat, and, as well as the rest of the body, covered by a shell, like a lobster, but with an alternation of blue and white across, producing an effect somewhat similar to the appearance of a sailor's striped waistcoat; the arms were remarkably short, and the fingers webbed, the nails very long and transparent. It had two tails, of a pale red colour, the one somewhat shorter than the other; whether this was the natural conformation of the animal, or had been occasioned by external injury, cannot be known but by comparison. These tails, as well as the back, were covered by a thick tough skin, without scales, and it was provided with a large dorsal fin. The marks of sexual distinction were easily perceptible, and minute; probably from the creature not being fully grown.

The foregoing account can be attested to by hundreds of the inhabitants of Leith and Edinburgh; indeed I have been informed that this specimen was preserved by the late ingenious Mr. Alexander Weir, and formed a valuable article of his Museum.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Archibald James, jun.
Mount Pleasant, Coldbath-fields, Oct 2, 1809.

CC image (and creation?) by Malcolm Lidbury