THE GONDOLA DOLPHINS.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sraf—Can any of your readers tell me why the little brass dolphins fixed on each side of nearly all the Venetian gondolas have large brass balls set in their widely gaping mouths ? Is there any legend or fairy tale connected with the matter— akin, say, to the Chinese or Japanese one, where the dragon swallows the world ? One often sees the latter legend expressed in little carved ivory netsuke. I bought a brass dolphin off a gondola last summer (he was so much more attractive than the shop souvenirs), and he now sits on my desk as a paper weight—every time I use him the ball in his mouth rouses my curiosity—so I should be grateful if any of your readers mould give me any information on the point.—I am, Sir, &c.,
HARTLEPOOL,
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