£4 DOLPHIN. Class IV. 



Pliny, JElian, and others, feem to preferve no 

 bounds in their belief of the tales related of this 

 fifh's attachment to mankind. 



Pliny*- the younger, (apologizing for what he is 

 going to -fay) tells the flory of the enamoured dol- 

 phin of Hippo in a mod beautiful manner. It is 

 too long to be tranfcribed, and would be injur- 

 ed by an abridgement -, therefore we refer the read- 

 er to the original, or to Mr. Melmoth\ elegant 

 tranflation. 



Scarce an accident could happen at fea but the 

 dolphin offered himfelf to convey to ihore the un- 

 fortunate. Avion, the mufician, when flung into 

 the ocean by the pyrates, is received and faved by 

 this benevolent filh. 



Inde (fide majus) tergo Delphina recurvo, 

 Se memorant oneri fuppofuiffe novo. 



Ule fedens citharamque tenens, pretiumque vehendi 

 Cantat, et sequoreas carmine mulcet aquas. 



Ovid. Fajiiy lib. ii. it^. 



But (pall belief) a Dolphin's arched back, 

 Preferved Jrion from his deftined wrack ; 

 Secure he fits, and with harmonious iirains* 

 Requites his bearer for his friendly pains. 



We are at a lofs to account for the origin of 

 thofe fables, fince it does not appear that the dol- 

 phin fhews a greater attachment to mankind than 



* Epift. lib. ix, ep, 33* 



the 



