6 2 The Complete Angler 



because both he, then, and many others before him, 

 have been curious to search into their bellies, what 

 the food was by which they lived ; and have found 

 out nothing by which they might satisfy their curi- 

 osity. 



Concerning which you are to take notice, that it 

 is reported by good authors, that grasshoppers and 

 some fish have no mouths, but are nourished and take 

 breath by the porousness of their gills, man knows 

 not how : and this may be believed, if we consider 

 that when the raven hath hatched her eggs, she 

 takes no further care, but leaves her young ones to 

 the care of the God of nature, who is said, in the 

 Psalms, " to feed the young ravens that call upon 

 him ". And they be kept alive and fed by a dew ; 

 or worms that breed in their nests ; or some other 

 ways that we mortals know not. And this may be 

 believed of the Fordidge Trout, which, as it is said 

 of the stork, that he knows his season, so he knows 

 his times, I think almost his day of coming into that 

 river out of the sea ; where he lives, and, it is like, 

 feeds, nine months of the year, and fasts three in 

 the river of Fordidge. And you are to note, that 

 those townsmen are very punctual in observing the 

 time of beginning to fish for them ; and boast much, 

 that their river affords a Trout that exceeds all 

 others. And just so does Sussex boast of several 

 fish; as, namely, a Shelsey Cockle, a Chichester 

 Lobster, an Arundel Mullet, and an Amerly Trout 



And, now, for some confirmation of the Fordidge 

 Trout : you are to know that this Trout is thought 

 to eat nothing in the fresh water ; and it may be the 

 better believed, because it is well known, that swal- 

 lows, and bats, and wagtails, which are called half- 

 year birds, and not seen to fly in England for six 

 months in the year, but about Michaelmas leave us 

 for a hotter climate, yet some of them that have 



