THE COMMON DOLPHIN. 



Tvhere he founded that oracle so famous throughout 

 uitiquity, he did so under the form of a Dolphin. 

 A.pollo was thus, according to Visconti, adored 

 not only in connexion with the Delphine province, 

 but the Delphinus fish. He was worshipped at 

 Delphi with Dolphins for his symbols. The ancients 

 respected the Dolphin as a benefactor of mankind ; 

 they cherished the tale of Phalantus, the founder of 

 Tarentum, being carried on shore by a Dolphin 

 when wrecked on the coast of Italy ; and the story 

 of the musician Arion, who, when about to be thrown 

 overboard by the sailors that they might possess 

 themselves of his wealth, begged that he might be 

 permitted to play some melodious tune, and then 

 threw himself into the sea ; upon which one of the 

 many Dolphins, which had been attracted by the 

 music, carried him on its back safe to Taenarus; 

 or rather, perhaps, according to Ovid, 



Secure he sits, and with harmonious strains 

 Requites his bearer for his friendly pains. 



It is also recorded that the shield and sword of 

 Ulysses bore an image of the Dolphin, and it is 

 certain it is seen in very ancient medals and coins. 

 It very early appeared on the shield of some of the 

 princes of France ; it gave a name to a fair province 

 of that empire, and hence a title to the heir-apparent 

 of the crown. 



Scarcely less fabulous are those other narratives 

 which have been transmitted on the testimony of 

 the early naturalists. They tell us that the Dolphin 



