44 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



spring, and in their fixed months warble forth 

 such ditties as no art or instrument can reach to ! 



Nay, the smaller birds also do the like in their 

 particular seasons, as namely the laverock, the tit- 

 lark, the little linnet, and the honest robin, that 

 loves mankind both alive and dead. 



But the nightingale, another of my airy crea- 

 tures, breathes such sweet loud music out of her 

 little instrumental throat, that it might make man- 

 kind to think miracles are not ceased. He that at 

 midnight, when the very laborer sleeps securely, 

 should hear, as I have very often, the clear airs, 

 the sweet descants, the natural rising and ailing 

 the doubling and redoubling of her voice, might well 

 be lifted above earth, and say, " Lord, what music 

 hast thou provided for the saints in heaven, when 

 thou affordest bad men such music on earth ! " 



And this makes me the less to wonder at the 

 many aviaries in Italy, or at the great charge of 

 Varro's aviary, the ruins of which are yet to be 

 seen in Rome, and is still so famous there that it 

 is reckoned for one of those notables which men 

 of foreign nations either record, or lay up in their 

 memories 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 't is certain that 

 when the Turks besieged Malta or Rhodes, I now 

 remember not which it was, pigeons are then re- 



