Page:The Music of the Spheres.djvu/144

 ever, places less strain on the imagination than in the case of Pegasus (whose nose starred by Enif lies 10 degrees southeast of Delphinus), where the four principal stars form a "square" and are called a "Flying Horse." But the name of Job's Coffin, as mentioned before, is merely a popular name while Delphinus, the constellation known as the Dolphin, was named in honor of a dolphin connected with the adventures of Arion, far-famed as a musician of Corinth about 700

The dolphin which the map-makers drew on the star-maps is an exceedingly plump and queer-looking animal. As Admiral Smith comically remarks, it looks more "like a huge periwinkle pulled out of its shell." In reality dolphins are anything but periwinklian, for they belong to the whale family. They grow to be from six to eight feet in length and travel in herds, and have been seen by the writer gamboling and playing on the surface of the sea in the most remarkable manner. They are supposed to be strongly attracted toward harmonious sounds such as music, delight in racing with passing ships and seem to be of an exceptionally friendly nature toward man. On this foundation was based the legend of Arion, first given by Herodotus and afterwards decorated by the poets.

Arion had been sent by Periander, ruler of Corinth, to Sicily and Italy, and at Tarentum had won the prize in a musical contest. As he returned laden with gifts in a Corinthian ship, the musician was attacked by avaricious sailors determined to do away with him and take possession of his goods. Warned by Apollo in a dream, Arion lured close a troop of friendly dolphins by the sweet strains of his cithara. Leaping to the back of an admiring one, he was carried to the promontory of Tænarus, where he landed and journeyed on to Corinth. For this praiseworthy deed, the gods raised the dolphin among the constellations.

Another legend tells us that when Neptune, Ruler of the Sea,