But the chief cause of pride with the Dolphins is the notice that has been taken of us, and the honor shown us by the royal family of France.  Why, we formed at one time the chief figure on the coat of arms of the princes of France.

A coat of arms, perhaps you know, is a family crest or medal, having on it a figure or device which a high-born family adopts as its particular sign or emblem of nobility.

Then the French people once named a province of France for us, calling it Dauphene, and pronounced Dor-fa-na.

But greatest of all the honors shown us, is the fact that the little men-babies born of the French kings, and heirs to the throne of France, were called “the Dauphin,” taken from our name.

Are we not distinguished?  And do you wonder that we have a somewhat exalted idea of ourselves after such honors as these have been heaped upon us?  And do you think, in view of these facts, that I am taking on too grand a title in announcing myself as “Lord Dolphin”?

Dear me, I do hope not!  It would be such a pity to make a mistake right at the outset in telling a story.  For truth to tell, I am not a bit proud, but just a good-natured chap that has decided to spin a sea-yarn for the amusement, and I hope the instruction, it may be, of young Folks, being perfectly willing the older Folks should hear it, too, if they like.  And I don’t believe the smaller Folks will object to the title, even if they don’t have “lords” in this country.  It must be they are all lords here, all the nice men-Folks.

Do you wonder what I live on?  Fishes, of course, for we do not have a very great chance at getting other kinds of food under water.  I like herrings best of all, and feed on them oftener than on any other kind of fish.

There is just one fellow that I cannot endure.  That is the flying-fish.  I fight, make war on him, and drive him away every time he comes around.  Oh, but he is the trying creature!  Forever flying in your face, getting in your way, prying into your affairs, a kind of gossip-fish, that I despise.  Why I feel so great a dislike for him I cannot say, it must be there is something in my nature that sets me against him, but a flying-fish and a Dolphin cannot live along the same wave.

There is another page in my history that must be mentioned.

Several hundred years ago our flesh used to be eaten, and what is more, it was thought to be fine, so that only those who had a great deal of money could afford to have it on their tables.  But nowadays we are never used for food, but are thought to be coarse, and not nearly as nice as most other kinds of fish.

All right!  We are very glad not to be in danger of being devoured.  We go sailing along under the bright surface of the sea, in groups of just ourselves, and such leaps as we can take!  By and by, you will hear of leaps I have taken which have been the means of my learning a great deal.