376 
PLINY's NATtJEAL HISTORY. 
[Book IX. 
while the dolphins, on the other hand, are waiting in readiness 
to receive them, and content themselves for the present with 
killing them only, postponing all thoughts of eating till after 
they have secured the victory. The battle waxes hot apace, 
and the dolphins, pressing on with the greatest vigour, 
readily allow themselves to be enclosed in the nets ; but in 
order that the fact of their being thus enclosed may not urge 
the enemy to find additional means of flight, they glide 
along so stealthily among the boats and nets, or else the swim- 
mers, as not to leave them any opening for escape. By leaping, 
which at other times is their most favourite amusement, not 
one among them attempts to make its escape, unless, indeed, 
the nets are purposely lowered for it ; and the instant that it 
has come out it continues the battle, as it were, up to the very 
ramparts. At last, when the capture is now completed, they 
devour those among the fish which they have killed f but 
being well aware that they have given too active an assistance 
to be repaid with only one day^s reward, they take care to wait 
there till the following day, when they are filled not only with 
fish, but bread crumbs soaked in wine as well. 
CHAP. 10. OTHEE WOraEEPFL THINGS RELATING TO DOLPHINS. 
The account which Mucianus gives of a similar mode of 
fishing in the lasian Gulf differs from the preceding one, in 
the fact that there the dolphins make their appearance of their 
own accord, and do not require to be called : they receive their 
share from the hands of the people, each boat having its own 
particular associate among the dolphins ; and this, although the 
fishing is carried on at night-time by the light of torches. 
If the latter is the meaning, Pliny probably intends to speak only of what 
some of them are able to do : otherwise it is hard to see of what utility the 
nets were in the operation. 
Quos interemere." Pintianiis suggests " aequo interim jure " — 
'*with equal rights," instead of these words, and Pelicier does not disap- 
prove of the suggestion; for ^lian states, in B. ii. c. 8, Hist. Anim., tliat 
the dolphins used to share the fish equally with, the fishermen of Euboea. 
But, as Hardouin says, the words quos interemere " have reference to the 
statement above, that " they content themselves for the present with killing 
them only." And besides, if the fishermen gave them an equal share, it is 
not likely that they would give them still more of the fish on the following 
day. 
8^ -3ELian also mentions this, Hist. Anim. B. ii. c. 8. 
