BOOK IX.] History of Nature. \ 15 



When Divus Augustus was Sovereign, a Dolphin in the 

 Lake Lucrinus loved with wonderful Affection a Boy who 

 was the Son of a poor Man ; and who, using to go every Day 

 to a Grammar-School from Baianum to Puteoli, was accus- 

 tomed about Noon to loiter and call the Dolphin by the 

 Name of Simo ; and many Times he would give him Frag- 

 ments of Bread, which for that Purpose he brought with him. 

 I should be reluctant to relate this, but that Meccenas, Fabi- 

 anus, Flavins Alfius, and many others, have committed the 

 Matter to Record. At whatever Time of the Day this Boy 

 called him, however hidden and concealed, he would hasten 

 from his Retreat ; and being fed from his Hand, he gently 

 offered him his Back to mount upon, lowering down the 

 Spines of his Fins, as into a Sheath. And when on his Back 

 he carried him over the broad Sea as far as Puteoli to 

 School ; in the same Manner conveying him back again for 

 many Years. But when the Boy fell sick and died, the 

 Dolphin frequented at Intervals the accustomed Place, as 

 one that was sadly distressed ; at last (in a Manner that no 

 one could doubt) he also died from Regret. 1 



1 The works of ancient naturalists abound in stories concerning the 

 Dolphin and its friendliness to the human race ; and from circumstances 

 which the Editor has been made acquainted with, it would appear that on 

 some occasions slight signs of recognition have been occasionally mani- 

 fested between at least some species of cetaceous animals and voyagers. 

 There is reason to believe, however, that these approaches to intimacy 

 have been directed rather to the ship than the sailors, and that the crea- 

 ture has mistaken the vessel for one of its own kind. It must be allowed 

 that nothing similar to the circumstances ascribed to this creature by 

 Pliny, JElian, and the Greek writers quoted by Aulus Gellius, has been 

 seen in modern times; but the multitude of witnesses, and the alleged 

 publicity of some of these occurrences, may be regarded as warrants that 

 something at least unusual had occurred at the time referred to. It may 

 serve in eliciting the truth, if we compare the narratives of these ancient 

 authors with one another, and with the well-known habits and appear- 

 ance of the Dolphin (Delphinus Delphis). .ZElian's account of a circum- 

 stance exceedingly similar to this of Pliny, is, with a slight abridgment, 

 thus (B. vi. c. 15) : "The celebrated instance of affection which a Dol- 

 phin at Jasos (in Caria) expressed for a beautiful boy must not be passed 

 over in silence. The gymnasium of the people of Jasos overlooks the 



