THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 45 



lated to carry and recarry letters ; and Mr. G. 

 Sandys, in his " Travels," relates it to be done be- 

 twixt Aleppo and Babylon. But if that be disbe- 

 lieved, it is 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 messen- 

 ger. And for the sacrifices of the law, a pair of 

 turtle-doves or young pigeons were as well ac- 

 cepted 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 eve- 

 ning. 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 remember 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 

 regular government of their own commonwealth I 

 might say much, as also of their several kinds, and 

 how useful their honey and wax is both for meat 

 and medicines to mankind ; but I will leave them 

 to their sweet labor, without the least disturbance, 

 believing them to be all very busy at this very time 

 amongst the herbs and flowers that we see nature 

 puts forth this May morning. 



And now to return to my hawks, from whom I 



