4 MARCH 1922, Page 15

A STRANGE SEA REPTILE.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECUTOR."]

SIR,—In the spring of 1910, when I was in command of the ',Caesar,' battleship, steaming towards the Clyde and between the coast of Ireland and the Isle of Man, I was on the bridge, in broad daylight, when a creature leapt out of the water close to .the• ship and shot straight up into the air about forty or fifty feet, and came down spread-eagle fashion. It had the appear- ance of a chameleon, though shorter in proportion, and was about the size of the skinned chow-dogs one sees hanging outside the butchers' shops of Canton. I called the navigating officer from the stanriard oorapass, and as he got to my side the creature leapt again, and we both had a good look at it.

I have never been able to get -any information about such a thing from books or from people, and had almost given up the quest when I saw the banner of the Ancient Town of Rye. The banner is copied from the seal of the town. The seal is very old -and represents the arms of -Rye . (three figurea,' half lion, half line o' battleship), surrounded by three wyverns. One of the .wyverns has a strong resemblance to the reptile I saw. Can any of your readers throw light upon its identityl—I am, Sir, he., ROBERT H. ANSTRUTHER, Vice-Admiral. Holloway House, Bye, Sussex.