THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 63 



much of this is spoken concerning the dolphin, and 

 other fish, as may be found also in the learned 

 Dr. Casaubon's "Discourse of Credulity and In- 

 credulity," printed by him about the year 1670. 



I know we islanders are averse to the belief of 

 these wonders ; but there be so many strange crea- 

 tures to be now seen many collected by John 

 Tradescant, 1 and others added by my friend Elias 

 Ashmole, Esq., who now keeps them carefully and 

 methodically at his house near to Lambeth, near 

 London as may get some belief of some of the 

 other wonders I mentioned. I will tell you some 

 of the wonders that you may now see, and not till 

 then believe, unless you think fit. 



You may there see the hog-fish, the dog-fish, the 

 dolphin, the coney-fish, the parrot-fish, the shark, the 

 poison-fish, sword-fish ; and not only other incredible 

 fish, but you may there see the salamander, several 

 sorts of barnacles, of Solan geese, the bird of Para- 

 dise, such sorts of snakes, and such bird's-nests, and 

 of so various forms and so wonderfully made, as may 

 beget wonder and amusement in any beholder ; and 

 so many hundred of other rarities in that collection 

 as will make the other wonders I spake of the less 

 incredible ; for you may note that the waters are 

 Nature's storehouse in which she locks up her 

 wonders. 



But, sir, lest this discourse may seem tedious, I 

 shall give it a sweet conclusion out of that holy 



1 Gardener to Charles I., and a great collector of the curious. 



