A GREAT SENSATION AT PENRITH. The quiet plodding people of Penrith awoke on Sunday morning to a great and unusual surprise, – being nothing less than the agitating intelligence that a considerable off-shoot of the sea-serpent had been captured in the neighbourhood, in fresh water. For a long time the natural repose of the sacred day was disturbed by terrible rumours, people forgot to go to church, and could think of nothing but asking after the lately-brought-to-light phenomenon. Inquiry and investigation showed what was really the matter, and the good folks were naturally disgusted at the simplicity of the facts. They were as follows: A tailor – whether troubled with an accusing conscience we cannot say – was out walking by a small stream near Melbourne Cottage, with the object of studying the natural history of water rats, and hoping to see a good fight amongst them. Thus indulging his innocent desires, he chanced upon what he thought a pretty stone, and taking a piece of wood to throw it over, it turned out to his horror to the the head of a serpent. Being of a cowardly nature, the ghastly spectacle paralysed him with terror, and he fled with a rapidity that did him credit, tailor though he was. As this natural philosopher ran, however, he thought, and shortly plucked up courage enough to return, but he acted even then with a prudence worthy of Schmelzle himself. He got him a turnip rail with a sharp nail at the end of it, and peering into the water he struck the nail into the head of the serpent. He thought it lashed the water with its tail, yet he valiantly dragged it to the bank, and it proved to be a dead beast, no doubt thrown away by an itinerant showman. Yet it was nine feet long, and no doubt, looked “tremendous still in death”. _________________ Barb, Ontario, Canada.