LYNCEUS, in fabulous history, one of the Argo-
nauts, who went with Jason in the expedition to ob-
tain the golden fleece. He was of great use to the
Argonauts, by enabling them to avoid the sand-banks
and rocks they found in their way. The poets say, that
Lynceus had so piercing a sight, that it could not only
penetrate to the bottom of the sea, but even to hell.
Some mythologists suppose, that this fable is taken
from Lynceus's skill in observing the stars, and dis-
covering the mines of gold and silver concealed in the
earth.