chap, i.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 11 



foreign nations either record, or lay up in their me- 

 mories when they return from travel. 



This for the birds of pleasure, of which very much 

 more might be said. My next shall be of birds of 

 political use; I think 'tis not to be doubted that 

 swallows have been taught to carry letters between 

 two armies. But 'tis certain that, when the Turks 

 besieged Malta or Rhodes, I now remember not 

 which 'twas, Pigeons are then related to carry and 

 recarry letters. And Mr. G. Sandys, in his Travels, 

 relates it to be done betwixt Aleppo and Babylon. 

 But if that be disbelieved, 'tis 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, I. Kings xvii. 4-6. after 

 a kind of miraculous manner, he did it by Ravens, 

 who brought him meat morning and evening. Lastly, 

 the Holy Ghost, when he descended visibly upon 

 our Saviour, did it by assuming the shape of a Dove. 

 And, to conclude this part of my discourse, pray re- 

 member 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 crea- 

 ture, an inhabitant of my aerial element, namely 

 the laborious Bee, of whose prudence, policy, and 



