344 A DESCRIPTION OF 
or dusky blue, becoming white below. It has eight small 
teeth in each jaw ; a dorsal and two pectoral fins, and the 
tail in the shape of a half-moon. The snout of the Dolphin 
is most useful to it when in search of eels and other fishes 
which harbour in the mud. This beak-like snout has 
probably made the French call the Dolphin the sea-goose. 
Several curious stories have been related of this animal, 
all of which are fabulous. The anecdote of Arion, the 
musician, when thrown overboard by pirates, having been 
indebted for his life to one of these animals, is well known, 
and acquired great credit among ancient poets, as it was 
said to be by his music that Arion charmed the Dolphin. 
There are several other fables mentioned by ancient 
authors to prove the philanthrophy of the Dolphin. Since 
the province of Dauphine in France has been united to 
the crown, the heir-apparent has been called " Dauphin," 
and quarters a Dolphin on his shield. Falconer, in his 
beautiful poem, " The Shipwreck," describes the death of 
this fish in the following elegant manner : 
Beneath the lofty vessel's stern 
A shoal of sportive Dolphins they discern, 
Beaming from burnish'd scales refulgent rays, 
Till all the glowing ocean seems to blaze. 
In curling wreaths they wanton on the tide ; 
Now bound aloft, now downward swiftly glide. 
Awhile beneath the waves their tracks remain, 
And burn in silver streams along the liquid plain ; 
Soon to the sport of death the crew repair, 
Dart the long lance, or spread the baited snare. 
One in redoubling mazes wheels along, 
And glides, unhappy, near the triple prong. 
Rodmond, unerring, o'er his head suspends 
The barbed steel, and every turn attends : 
Unerring aim'd, the missile weapon flew, 
And plunging, struck the fated victim through. 
The upturning points his ponderous bulk sustain ; 
On deck he struggles with convulsive pain ; 
