41 



white towards the belly: he is entirely destitute 

 of gills, or any similar aperture, but respires 

 and also spouts water through a pipe of a semi- 

 circular form, placed on the upper part of the 

 head. The lower end of the pipe opens in the 

 mouth, and is capable of being opened and shut 

 at pleasure. We find eight small teeth in each 

 jaw; a dorsal and two pectoral fins, and the tail 

 in the shape of a half moon. Their snouts are 

 most useful to them when in search of eels and 

 other fish which harbour in the mud at the 

 bottom of the sea. 



Several curious stories have been related of 

 this remarkable fish. The anecdote of Arion, 

 whom a Dolphin, enchanted with the harmonious v 

 strains of his lyre, saved from sinking in the 

 sea, is well known, and acquired great credit 

 among ancient poets: but it is rather an in- 

 structing allegory than a well-grounded fact. 

 However, this fish has obtained the reputation 

 of being particularly fond of man, from the fol- 

 lowing interesting anecdote related by Pliny 

 the younger, who, at the time he wrote it, does 

 not appear to have had any doubt of its being 

 true. It is as follows : 



" There is, in Africa, a town called Hippo, 



