Note 206 — Chapter IV · THE DOLPHIN—HERODOTUS—THE ICHTHYOPHAGI—THE TUNNY

Oppian, hal., V. 447. In mediæval times instances of dolphins aiding fishermen are related by Albertus Magnus, De Animalibus, VI. p. 653, and by Rondolet, Libri de piscibus marinis, etc. (Lugduni, 1554-5), XVI. p. 471. At the present day in Lake Menzalah porpoises shepherd the fish: the Egyptian, however, spares to his helpers their lives, but naught else. The natives of Angola were much more recognisant of service, as an interesting description by an old traveller of a fish drive there evidences: “They use upon this coast to fish with harping irons, and waite upon a great fish which cometh once a day to feed along the shoare which is like a grampus. Hee runneth very near the shoare, and driveth great skuls of fish before him; the negroes runne along and strike their harping irons about him, and kill great store of fish, and leave them in the sand till the fish hath done feeding and then they come and gather up the fish. This fish will many times runne himself aground, but they will presently shore him off again, which is as much as four or five men can doe. They call him Emboa, which is in their speech a Dogge: and will by no means hurt or kill any of them.” The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell of Leigh in Essex. (Haklutus Posthumus or Purchas his pilgrimes (ed. Glasgow, 1905-7), vol. VI. p. 404.)