THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 6$ 



" God quickened in the sea and in the rivers 

 So many fishes of so many features, 

 That in the waters we may see all creatures, 

 Even all that on the earth are to be found, 

 As if the world were in deep waters drowned. 

 For seas, as well as skies, have sun, moon, stars ; 

 As well as air swallows, rooks, and stares ; l 

 As well as 'earth vines, roses, nettles, melons, 

 Mushrooms, pinks, gilliflowers, and many millions 

 Of other plants, more rare, more strange than these, 

 As very fishes living in the seas : 

 As also rams, calves, horses, hares, and hogs, 

 Wolves, urchins, lions, elephants, and dogs ; 

 Yea, men and maids ; and, which I most admire, 

 The mitred bishop and the cowled friar, 

 Of which examples, but a few years since, 

 Were shown the Norway and Polonian prince." 



These seem to be wonders, but have had so 

 many confirmations from men of learning and 

 credit that you need not doubt them. Nor are 

 the number nor the various shapes of fishes more 

 strange or more fit for contemplation than their dif- 

 ferent natures, inclinations, and actions ; concerning 

 which I shall beg your patient ear a little longer. 



The cuttle-fish will cast a long gut out of her 

 throat, which, like as an angler, doth his line, she 

 sendeth forth and pulleth in again at her pleasure, 

 according as she sees some little fish come near to 

 her; and the cuttle-fish, being then hid in the 

 gravel, lets the smaller fish nibble and bite the end 

 of it ; at which time she, by little and little, draws 

 the smaller fish so near to her that she may leap 



l Starlings. 

 5 



