Introduction. XV 
That the cowry shell was consecrated to Venus 
and that the beliefs associated with it had long been 
current in the Mediterranean is clear from the writings 
of Pliny (Bk. IX., chap. 41). In the Defence made by 
Apuleius against the charge of sorcery these ideas con- 
cerning the cowry’s magical properties are discussed.° 
Later on I shall explain how the properties of cowries 
became transferred in some part to pearls, In the notes 
on Pliny’s Natural History (Bohn’s Edition, 1855), Dr. 
Bostock and Mr. H. T. Riley (Vol. II., p. 433) refer to 
the habits of dog-fishes (‘Canes marini”), and quote 
from Procopius (De Bell. Pers. B. 1, c. 4) the following 
¢ 
“wonderful story in relation to this subject” :—“ sea-dogs 
are wonderful admirers of the pearl-fish, and follow them 
out to sea... . A certain fisherman, having watched for 
the moment when the shell-fish was deprived of the pro- 
tection of its attendant sea-dog, .. . seized the shell-fish 
and made for the shore. The sea-dog, however, was soon 
aware of the theft, and making straight for the fisherman, 
seized him. Finding himself thus caught, he made a last 
effort, and threw the pearl-fish on shore, immediately on 
which he was torn to pieces by its protector.” 
This legend is linked by numerous bonds of connexion 
with the stories of dragon-protecters of pearls and also 
with those relating to dolphins. It would take me too 
far afield to discuss its genesis here, but there can be little 
doubt that it is a garbled version of the dangers from 
sharks incurred by divers for pearls and conch shells in 
the Indian Ocean (see foséea, p. 88). In the Far East the 
shark is replaced by the dragon (see fostea, p. 103). | 
have referred to this matter only because I believe it will 
* with Introduction and Commentary by Professor 
& « Apvlei Apologia,’ 
H. E. Butler, and A. S. Owen, Oxford, 1914, § 33 and 34, and especially the 
notes upon them. 
