THE COMPLETE ANGLER 27 



use. I think 'tis not to be doubted that swallows * 

 have been taught to carry letters between two armies. 

 But it is certain, that when the Turks besieged Malta 

 or Rhodes (I now remember not which it was), pigeons 

 are then related to carry and recarry letters. And Mr. 

 G. Sandys, in his Travels, relates it to be done between 

 Aleppo and Babylon. But if that be disbelieved, it is 

 not to be doubted that the dove was sent out of the ark 

 by Noah, to give him notice of land, when to him all 

 appeared to be sea ; and the dove proved a faithful 

 and comfortable messenger. And for the sacrifices of the 

 law, a pair of turtle-doves or young pigeons were as well 

 accepted as costly bulls and rams. And when God would 

 feed the prophet Elijah after a kind of miraculous manner, 

 He did it by ravens, who brought him meat morning 

 and evening. Lastly, the Holy Ghost, when He de- 

 scended visibly upon our Saviour, did it by assuming 

 the shape of a dove. And to conclude this part of my 

 discourse, pray remember these wonders were done 

 by birds of the air, the element in which they and I 

 take so much pleasure. 



There is also a little contemptible winged creature, an 

 inhabitant of my aerial element, namely, the laborious 

 bee, of whose prudence, policy, and regular government 

 of their own commonwealth, I might say much, as also 

 of their several kinds, and how useful their honey and 

 wax are both for meat and medicines to mankind ; 

 but I will leave them to their sweet labour, without 

 the least disturbance, believing them to be all very 

 busy at this very time amongst the herbs and flowers 

 that we see nature puts forth this May morning. 



* Walton's knowledge of Natural History was superficial and 

 superstitious. No birds can be trained to lly to and from places. 

 The carrier-pigeon will only fly with a message, generally written 

 on a slip of oiled tissue-paper lapped round the leg, from a place to 

 which the bird is taken, to its home. It will not carry a message 

 from its home or dove-cote to a given place ; it can make a return 

 voyage, but not an outward one. E. 



