In response to inquiries about "feejee mermaid" popularized by P T Barnum, the following information is offered regarding the piece held in the Peabody Museum-Harvard University, and exhibited in Baltimore in the exhibit "Mermaids, Mummies, and Mastodons" in 1990. In Steven Williams' "Buried Treasures of the Peabody Museum" (published by Harvard U) No. 2. 1969, the piece is described as "Java Mermaid". This "mermaid" is 38 cm L x 13 cm W x 12 cm H. The piece is constructed with a body and tail of a fish (possibly of the "Sparidae family") joined to a head and torso of unknown materials (possibly papier mache). The head does appear to be pigmented papier mache applied to a foundation (wood? papier mache? mammal skull?). Additional fish parts (again of the Sparidae family?) include bony fin rays (dorsal; pelvic; pectoral) and molariform and caniform teeth. Teeth are artificially set into "mouth". Surface hair has been applied in patches; and was identified as wool. T.Rose Holdcraft Conservation Department Peabody Museum-Harvard University 11 Divinity Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 email: [log in to unmask]