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which I think is a truth. Aldrovandus says, 

 the salmon, the grayling, and trout, and all 

 fish that live in clear and sharp streams are 

 made by their mother Nature of such exact 

 shape and pleasant colours, purposely to invite 

 us to a joy and contentedness in feasting with 

 her. Whether this is a truth or not it is not 

 my purpose to dispute : but 'tis certain, all that 

 write of the umber declare him to be very medi- 

 cinable. And Gesner says, that the fat of an 

 umber or grayling, being set with a little honey, 

 a day or two in the sun, in a little glass, is very 

 excellent against redness, or swarthiness, or 

 any thing that breeds in the eyes. Salviani 

 takes him to be called umber from his swift 

 swimming or gliding out of sight, more like a 

 shadow or a ghost than a fish. Much more 

 might be said both of his smell and taste ; but 

 I shall only tell you, that St. Ambrose, the glo- 

 rious Bishop of Milan, who lived when the 

 church kept fasting-days, calls him the flower- 

 fish, or flower of fishes ; and that he was so far 

 in love with him, that he would not let him pass 

 without the honour of a long discourse. He 

 is of a very fine shape, his flesh is white, his 

 teeth, those little ones that he has, are in his 

 throat, yet he has so tender a mouth, that he is 

 oftener lost after an angler has hooked him than 

 any other fish. Though there be many of these 



