ICHTHYOLOGY. 



of the mouth projects considerably beyond the upper part 

 of the head, the form altogether is admirably calculated 

 for swift sailing. Many fabulous reports have been cir- 

 culated at different times, by former writers, of the attach- 

 ment of the Dolphin to mankind, of their following close 

 to the vessels, and sporting in a wanton mood to the 

 sound of music, as if they had taken particular delight 

 in the sound of instruments. The poet Ovid describes 

 the excellent musician Arion, as having performed so ad- 

 mirably on the Lyre, that he was carried f n the back 

 of a Dolphin, safe to land, in a situation where the rest 

 of the mariners were inevitably lost and shipwrecked. But 

 these devices are to be considered only as the lawful 

 fiction of the poets, who always delight to deal in the 

 marvellous. One circumstance however, is indeed very 

 remarkable, respecting the Natural History of the Dolphin, 

 and which is strongly confirmed by all navigators, which 

 is the singular occurrence of a change of colour, which 

 takes place when removed from its native element, the 

 the whole body becoming of a bright pink colour, pre- 

 vious to its death. 



The number of species is not at present accurately 

 known, but it is reported that in the Atlantic Ocean several 

 kinds exist of a size much superior to those found in the 

 European seas, but which are difficult to preserve, from 

 their immense size and consequent tendency to putrefac- 

 tion. 



