26 Udnas of tbe Iftofc, tRifle, anb (Bun 



Theoph. I remember the book, but you inculcate 

 his erratas ; however it may pass muster among 

 common muddlers. 



Am. No, I think not ; for I remember in Stafford, 

 I urged his own argument upon him, that pickerel 

 weed of itself breeds pickerel. Which question was 

 no sooner stated, but he transmits himself to his 

 authority, viz., Gesner, Dubravius, and Aldrovanus, 

 Which I readily opposed and offered my reasons to 

 prove the contrary ; asserting that pickerels have been 

 fished out of pools and ponds where that weed (for 

 ought I knew) never grew since the nonage of time, 

 nor pickerel ever known to have shed their spawn 

 there. This I propounded from a rational conjecture 

 of the heronshaw, who to commode herself with the 

 fry of fish, because in a great measure part of her 

 maintenance, probably might lap some spawn about 

 her legs in regard adhering to the segs and bull-rushes 

 near the shallows, where the fish shed their spawn, 

 as myself and others without curiosity have observed. 

 And this slimy substance adhering to her legs, etc., 

 and she mounting the air for another station, in pro- 

 bability mounts with her. Where note, the next pond 

 she happily arrives at, possibly she may leave the 

 spawn behind her, which my Compleat Angler no 

 sooner deliberated, but drop'd his argument, and leaves 

 Gesner to defend it ; so huff'd away ; which rendred 

 him rather a formal opinionist, than a reformed and 

 practical artist, because to celebrate such antiquated 

 records, whereby to maintain such an improbable 

 assertion. 



