52 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Ridiculous fables of the dolphin. 



earliest time for its fondness of life human race, 

 honoured by the title of the sacred fish, and dis- 

 tinguished by those of boy-loving and philan- 

 thropist. It gave rise to a long train of ridicu- 

 lous fables. Scarce an accident could happen 

 at sea, but the dolphin offered himself to convey 

 to shore. By the seamen of the present day 

 they are held rather in abhorrence than esteem, 

 for their frolics on the surface of the water are 

 almost sure signs of an approaching storm. 



In leaping out of the water, this fish assumes 

 a temporary curvature that is not natural to 

 them ; but which the painters and poets (who, 

 perhaps on this occasion borrowed from each 

 other) have constantly given them; and which 

 has indeed become too general an error. 



" Upon the swelling waves the dolphins show 

 Their bending backs, then swiftly darting, 

 And in a thousand wreaths their bodies throv 



Iphins show "\ 

 darting, go, V 

 lies throw." ) 



The dolphin was formerly reckoned a deli- 

 cacy: Dr. Caius says, that one which was taken 

 in his time (in the reign of Elizabeth) was thought 

 a present worthy the Duke of Norfolk, who dis- 

 tributed part of it among his friends. It was 

 roasted and dressed with porpesse sauce, made 

 of crumbs of fine white bread, with vinegar and 

 sugar. The flesh, however, though tolerably 

 well tasted, is dry and insipid : the best parts are 

 near the head. It is seldom eaten now but when 



