The New Student's Reference Work/Proteus

Proteus (prō′tē̇-ŭs or prō′tūs), in the oldest Greek mythology, appears as an old man of the sea who tends the seal-flocks of Neptune, his father and is endued with the gift of prophecy. His favorite residence, according to Homer, is the island of Pharos, near the mouth of the Nile. Here he rises at midday from the floods, and sleeps in the shadow of the rocky shores, surrounded by the monsters of the deep. But when caught by persons who sought to have him foretell future events, he would try to escape by assuming all manner of ugly shapes and disguises, and would refuse to exercise his gift until he found that further resistance would be useless.