Some more of Scott Mardis' comparisons with two different photos of the Loch Ness Monster: the first photo of the "Monster" by Hugh Gray in 1933 and the photo by Peter O'Connor in 1960. While I do not insist on the former, I think the latter is likely a photo of a living Plesiosaur: Peter Costello mentions Burton's dismissal of this photo and avers that Burton's explanation is also not to be trusted because of his extreme bias. Examination of the O'Connor photo resulted in a proposed scientific name, Nessiesaurus o'connori, which as Roy Mackal remarks could be held to have priority over Nessiteras rhombopteryx by priority (p. 220 footnote). The O'Connor photo is reversed above.
Dinsdale, Tim, Loch Ness Monster,1961, Routledge and Kegan Paul, pp 152-158, Plates 5 and 10
Costello, Peter, In Search of Lake Monsters, 1974, Coward McCann & Geoghegan, Both photos reproduced in the plates, Hugh Gray in text p 38 , Peter O'Connor in text, pp 87-88
Mackal, Roy P, The Monsters of Loch Ness, 1976, Swallow Books,Gray photo is "P1", pp 94-96 and O'Connor photo is "P9", pp 104-106. It should be mentioned that Burton had no firm connection between what he found and O'Connor's photo other than a local's say-so: the "Evidence" was all too convenient to be found and could have been planted deliberately. Mackal says his own impression is ambivalent without examining the negative which indicates he sets no especial store by Burton's allegations either.
I'm glad to read of a revival of the plesiosaur hypothesis here, I had abandoned it years ago. The comparison of the skull of the plesiosaur with the surgeon's photo is interesting. I'd be interested to know of an analysis of the second photo in that series in line with the plesiosaur idea. I seem to recall it being dismissed as a water bird or something. I'll have to reexamine that in the light of this new data.
ReplyDeleteI do have to comment that IMHO it seems unlikely that the Gray photo and the O'Conner photo are the same species of animal unless its morphology is subject to extremely wide variation over the course of its life cycle. I suppose I shall have to research plesiosaurs now to see if their babies looked like miniature versions of the adults or what.
In a related matter, I think in an earlier post you linked to the ABC news footage (or a still) of the Lake Champlain monster sort of checking out the boat the men are fishing from. The creature is underwater the whole time. What is your opinion of that footage Mr. Drinnon? I recall that I was impressed with it to the point where I concluded it was either a deliberate fake or a genuine serpent or plesiosaur-shaped critter as unlikely as that is.
I have an outline drawing of the second photo showing where the Plesiosaur-shaped body would be stretched out underwater. Good thing you mentioned it, I have it away in storage and would have forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Gray photo and O'Connor photo are unlikely to be the same kind of animal, but then, this is Scott Mardis' pasteup here and I'm letting him have his say. He also believes the Zuiyo Maru carcass is a Plesiosaur while I do not. These disgreements do not stand in the way of our having a perfectly splendid professional relationship.
The other pasteup was also Scotts, but I am inclined to consider it as valid evidence.
You must remember that over the past month (since December) I have been bouncing back and forth between home and hospital with some serious ulcerated wounds on my lower legs (which also involves a secondary severe fungus infection along with the bacterial cellulitis). The problem is better now, but it has taken a considerable edge off of my ability to produce new blogs on my own.
If you have been following my work, you will see that I discount the majority of "sea Serpent" reports the world over as standing waves, and I only allow a few lakes to be inhabited by Plesiosaur-shaped creatures. These are usually in near connection to the sea and apparently only have intermittent populations-visitations by single individuals that hang around a few years are not unreasonable. But the real breeding populations live in the sea, and they have approximately the same range as Leatherback turtles.
Best Wishes, Dale D.