90 COMMON DOLPHIN. Class IV. 



But (past belief) a Dolphin's arched back 

 Preserved Avion from his destined wrack ; 

 Secure he sits, and with harmonious strains 

 Requites his bearer for his friendly pains. 



We are at a loss to account for the origin of 

 those fables, since it does not appear that the 

 dolphin shews a greater attachment to mankind 

 than the rest of the cetaceous tribe. We know 

 that at present the appearance of this fish, and 

 the porpesse, are far from being esteemed favor- 

 able omens by the seamen ; for their bound- 

 ings, springs, and frolics in the water, are held 

 to be sure signs of an approaching gale. 



It is from their leaps out of that element that 

 they assume a temporary form that is not natu- 

 ral to them, but which the old painters and 

 sculptors have almost always given them. A 

 dolphin is scarcely ever exhibited by the 

 antients in a strait shape, but incurvated : 

 such are those on the coin of Alexander the 

 Great, which is preserved by Belon, as well as 

 on several other pieces of antiquity. The poets 

 describe them much in the same manner, and it 

 is not improbable but that the one had borrowed 

 from the other : 



Tumidumque pando transilit dorso mare 



Tyrrhenus omni piscis exsultat freto, 



Agitatque gyros. 



Senec. Trag. Agam. 450. 



