By the gallant commander's intrepid conduct a long prepared invasion of the enemy was broken and dispelled, in a manner that brought forcibly to mind the design and fate of the Spanish Armada; the defeat of which was, at that time, the safety of England, and the lasting renown of the English navy.*

An instance of Neptune employed in heraldry had been previously given in the crest of the family of Monypenny, with the motto "Imperat æquor," he governs the sea; in allusion probably to their estate on the coast of Fifeshire. An engraving of this device will be found in a subsequent page.

The dolphin of the ancients is more particularly famed in the story of Arion, the celebrated musician of Lesbos, the melodious sweetness of whose lyre attracted a number of dolphins round his ship; and when afterwards he threw himself into the sea, in fear of his life, one of them carried him safely on his back to shore.

⁕The arms of Lord Hawke of Towton in Yorkshire, are, argent, a chevron erminois between three boatswains whistles erect, proper. Crest, on a wreath a hawk rising proper, charged on the breast with a fleur-de-lis. Supporters, on the dexter side Neptune crowned, standing upon a dolphin, and bearing in his right hand the trident, all proper; on the sinister a sea-horse holding an union flag in his dexter paw, proper. Motto, Strike.

A cinque cento version of this classical fable, encircled with the heroic motto, "Invia virtuti nulla est via," implying that valour and virtue surmount everything, was adopted in 1560 as a mark by Oporinus, one of the famous German printers.

In this device, one amongst a number of grotesque and extraordinary ornaments of the early press,

John Herbst of Basle, better known by the name of Oporinus, was highly esteemed in his profession; he printed none but the best manuscripts, and published no book which he had not himself corrected. Having joined in partnership with Robert Winter, they both, agreeably to the practice of the learned men of that period, adopted classical names; Herbst assuming that of Oporinus, a Greek word signifying autumn; and Winter, for the same reason, took that of Chimerinus, apparently to humour the lines of Martial's epigram:

Si daret Autumnus mihi nomen, Oporinus essem.
Horrida si Brumæ sidera, Chimerinus.—Ep. ix.

There are very few fishes named in the sacred Scriptures, the most interesting portion of ancient literature; Dag, the Hebrew for fish, appears to be a general name of aquatic animals. As the Greek word for fish, Ictis, contained initials emblematical of Christ, a fish was a very favourite symbol of the early Christians; and the vesica piscis, a rough outline of a fish, formed of two curves meeting in a point at their extremities, was made to enclose the holy symbol.

This image was sculptured upon tombs and sepulchral urns, as well as upon seals and rings, and its form is shown on part of a pavement found near the conduit in South Street, Exeter, in September 1833. The same figure is also upon one of the tiles preserved at Caen in Normandy: both have been engraved in the Gentleman's Magazine.

The Virgin in a canopy, or Vesica piscis round which the four Evangelists are disposed, is not uncommon in the old churches. It is mentioned in Mr. Hope's "Historical Essay on Architecture," at Ravenna, where the fish also appears on the ancient convex marble ambones, or pulpits, which have been inserted in the walls of the modern cathedral. On the origin of this custom the curious may consult Encyclopedic Méthodique Antiq. tom. iii.

Of all classes of natural history, that of fishes is the most difficult to divide into orders, as remarked by Cuvier, who devoted his life to the study of the science. There is, indeed, nothing more remarkable than the infinite variety and singularity of the figures and shapes of fishes: their forms are considered to be more extraordinary than those of any other department of the animal kingdom.

The attention of heralds was directed merely to the chief characteristic features of animals, and the most generous and

noblest qualities belonging to the species are usually described. Beasts of savage nature are represented in fierce agency: the lion rampant is a lion prepared for action; the boar is shown with tusks, and the stag with his proper attire; the horse is represented in full speed, or courant; the greyhound coursing, and the deer tripping; but the wolf is described as passant, agreeably to his natural disposition, moving step by step.

As the symbol of a name, almost all fish have been used in heraldry; and in many instances fish have been assumed in arms in reference to the produce of the estate, giving to the quaint device a twofold interest. They are borne upright and extended, and when feeding are termed devouring; Allumé, when their eyes are bright, and Pamé, when their mouths are open.

All the terms used in describing their positions are old French. Hauriant, a word now obsolete, means fish raised upright, in which manner, with their heads above water, fish refresh themselves by sucking in the air; Naiant, from the same ancient source, denotes the swimming position.

The arrangement of subjects having but very slight reference to the classification of the naturalist, is adopted to explain the heraldic application of the several species of fish.

I.-The DOLPHIN and the WHALE.

II.-The PIKE, LUCE, or GED, and FLYING-FISH.

III. The BARBEL, CARP, GUDGEON, TENCH, BREAM, ROACH, DACE, CHUB, MINNOW, and LOACH.

IV. The CHABOT, GURNARD, MULLET, and PERCH.

V.-The SALMON, TROUT, SMELT, and GRAYLING, with their enemy the OTTER.

VI.—The HERRING, PILCHARD, and SPRAT,

VII. The MACKAREL.

VIII. The HADDOCK, COD, HAKE, LING, WHITING, and BURBOT.

IX.-The SOLE, TURBOT, PLAICE, and FLOUNDER.

X.-The EEL, CONGER, and LAMPREY.

XI. The STURGEON.

XII.-The DOG-FISH, SEA LIONS, and other monsters.

XIII. The SEAL, MERMAID, and TRITON.

XIV.-SHELLFISH.