Library of Cryptozoology

With reference to this subject I think it may interest your correspondents to hear that the garramooloccwh (not garramooloch, as spelt in your issue of March 18th) is well known in parts of Wiltshire. I inherited one of these animals many years ago, and it has remained until recently a treasured household pet. Owing, however, to its unfortunate propensity for leaping in the air and chasing the air-planes which daily make their way from London to Bristol it has had to be destroyed.

I was much interested in the letter in your issue for March 4th from my friend Admiral Anstruther with regard to the animal, whether mammal, reptile, or fish, which he saw leap out of the sea to the height of forty or fifty feet. These amimals are well known to the inhabitants of the wilder parts of the coast of Connemara, Mayo and Donegal, and are known as Gorramoolochs. The inhabitants do not, however, often speak of them to visitors, whom they know to be incredulous. As the creatures leap principally by night they are not often seen. They can leap to a much greater height than that seen by your correspondent, and woe to the belated gannet upon which they once set their eye, even though it be flying at a height of 100 feet above the surface of the sea. They follow it like a sleuth hound, and when they get within striking distance launch themselves through the air and, gliding by the aid of their large wing-like fins and guided by the swinging of their tail, they strike it and bring i...

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 appearance 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 standard compass, 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 figures, half lion, half line o' b...