PREFACE. XI 



berless and varied forms of animal and vege- 

 table life, which can hardly fail to arrest his 

 attention and excite his interest, many of them, 

 by reason of the silence and quiet necessary 

 for his sport, being seen to especial advantage; 

 all these things combine not only to present 

 the works of Nature before him in their most 

 attractive form, but at the same time pecu- 

 liarly dispose his mind to meditate on the 

 impressions they can scarcely fail to make on 

 it. The Book of Nature is in fact opened 

 before his eyes nay, obtruded on his notice 

 written in such distinct and inviting cha- 

 racters, that he must indeed be blind of eye, 

 and dull of apprehension, if he do not, to 

 some extent at any rate, attain to a know- 

 ledge and a love of her language. 



It is scarcely to be wondered then, that, 

 springing from all these associations, there 

 should insensibly arise in the Angler's mind 

 a cordial sympathy with and appreciation of 

 the delights and wonders of Nature, such as 

 I am persuaded no other class of men (taken 

 collectively) possesses. 



