[ in ] 



THE PAPER NAUTILUS, OR ARGONAUT*, 



which is six or eight inches in length, and but little 

 either thicker or stronger than paper, is found in the 

 Mediterranean Sea, and in the Indian Ocean. It is 

 the famous Nautilus of the ancients, and is sup- 

 posed, in the early ages of society, to have furnished 

 the original idea of navigation : 



Learn of the little Nautilus to sail, 



Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale. 



When it means to sail, it discharges a quantity 

 of water from its shell, by which it is rendered 

 lighter than the surrounding medium, and of course 

 rises to the surface. Here it extends two of its 

 arms upward, which are each furnished at their 

 extremity with an oval membrane that serves as a 

 sail. The other six arms hang over the sides of the 

 shelly and supply the place either of oars or rudder. 



Two feet they upward raise, and steady keep ; 

 These are the masts, and rigging of the ship. 

 A membrane stretch'd between supplies the sail, 

 Bends from the masts, and swells before the gale. 

 The other feet hang paddling on each side, 

 And serve for oars to row, and helm to guide. 

 'Tis thus they sail, pleas'd with the wanton game, 

 The fish, the sailor, and the ship the same. 

 But, when the swimmers dread some danger near, 

 The sportive pleasure yields to stronger fear : 



* Argonauta Argo. Linn. 

 VOL. III. P p 



