SOUTH AMERICA. 



89 



110 avail, at last drops on board the vessel, verifying the Second 



Journey. 



old remark, 



" Incidit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charj bdim." 



There, stunned by the fall, it beats the deck with 

 its tail and dies. When eating it, you would take it for 

 XI fresh herring. The largest measure from fourteen to 

 fifteen inches in length. The dolphin, after pursuing it 

 to the ship, sometimes forfeits his own life. 



In days of yore, the musician used to play in softest, 

 sweetest strain, and then take an airing amongst the 

 dolphins; " inter delphinas Arion." But now-a~days, 

 our tars have quite capsized the custom ; and instead of 

 riding ashore on the dolphin, they invite tlie dolphin 

 aboard. While he is darting and playing around the 

 vessel, a sailor goes out to the spritsailyard-arm, and 

 with a long staff, leaded at one end, and armed at the 

 other with five barbed spikes, he heaves it at him. If suc- 

 cessful in his aim, there is a fresh mess for all hands. 

 The dying dolphin affords a superb and brilliant sight : — 



" Mille traliit moriens, adverse sole colores." 



All the colours of the rainbow pass and repass in 

 rapid succession over his body, till the dark hand of 

 death closes the scene. 



From the Cape de Verd islands, to the coast of Brazil, 

 you see several different kinds of gulls, which, probably, 

 are bred in the island of St. Paul. Sometimes the large 

 bird called the Frigate Pelican, soars majestically over 



N 



