P, fX.] THE HISTOET OF ANIMALS. 275 



of Tarentum, Caria, and other places. It is said that when 

 a dolphin was captured and wounded on the coast of Caria, 

 so great a number came up to the harbour, that the fishermen 

 let him go, when they all went away together. And one 

 large dolphin, it is said, always follows the young ones, to 

 take care of them ; and sometimes a herd of large and small 

 dolphins has been seen together, and two of these having left 

 appeared soon after, supporting and carrying on their back 

 a small dead dolphin, that was ready to sink, as if in pity 

 for it, that it might not be devoured by any other wild 

 creature. 



2. Some incredible things are also told of their swiftness, 

 for it appears to be the swiftest of all animals, whether 

 marine or terrestrial. They will leap over the sails of large 

 ships. This is especially the case when they pursue a fish 

 for the sake of food ; for their hunger will make them pur- 

 sue their prey into the depths of the sea, if it retreats to 

 the bottom. And when they have to return from a great 

 depth, they hold their breath, as if they were reckoning 

 the distance, and then they gather themselves up, and 

 dart forward like an arrow, desirous of shortening their 

 distance from a breathing-place. And if they meet with 

 a ship they will throw themselves over its sails. Divers 

 also do the same thing when they have sunk themselves 

 into deep water, for they also gather up their strength 

 in order to rise to the surface. The males and females live 

 in pairs with each other. There is some doubt as to the 

 reason why they cast themselves on the land, for they 

 isay that sometimes they appear to do this without any 

 cause. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



As the actions of all animals agree with their dispositions, 

 [30 also their dispositions will change with their actions, and 

 >me of their parts also. This takes place among birds ; for 

 i hens, when they have conquered the cock, desire to copu- 

 llate with others, and their crest and rump become elevated, 

 (so that it is difficult to say whether they are hens or not. 

 j[n some, also, small spurs are found ; and some males, after 

 (the death of the female, have been seen to take the same care 

 ?f the young as the female would have done, leading them 



T 2 



