CHAP. K THE COMPLETE 



pleasure is it sometimes with gins to betray the very- 

 vermin of the earth 1 as namely, the Fichat, the Fuli- 

 mart *, the Ferret, the Pole-cat, the Mouldwarp, and 

 the like creatures that live upon the face and within 

 the bowels of the earth. How doth the earth bring 

 forth herbs, flowers and fruits, both for physick and 

 the pleasure of mankind ! and above all, to me at least, 

 the fruitful vine, of which when I drink moderately, it 

 clears my brain, chears my heart, and sharpens my 

 wit. How could Cleopatra have feasted Mark Antony 

 with eight Wild Boars roasted whole at one supper, 

 and other meat suitable, if the eartli had not been a 

 bountiful mother? But to pass by the mighty Ele- 

 phant, which the earth breeds and nourisheth, and de- 

 scend to the least of creatures, how doth the earth af- 

 ford us a doctrinal example in the little Pismire, who* 

 in the summer provides and lays up her winter pro- 

 vision, and teaches man to do the like t! The earth? 

 feeds and carries those horses that carry us. If I 

 would be prodigal of my time and your patience, what 

 might, not I say in commendation of the earth ? That 

 puts limits to the proud and raging sea, and by that 

 means preserves both man and beast, that it destroys 

 them not, as we see it daily doth those that venture 

 upon the sea, and are there shipwrecked, drowned, and 

 left to feed Haddocks ; when we that are so wise as to 

 keep ourselves on earth, walk and talk, and live, and 

 eat, and drink, and go a hunting : of which rccreatioft 

 I will say a little, and then leave Mr. Piscator to the 

 commendation of Angling. 



* Dr. Skinner, in his Etymoloaicon Lingua Anglican*?, Lond. fol. 1671, 

 voce "Fulimart," gives us to understand, that this word is Vox q ua nnsquam^ 

 nisi in libra the " Complete Angler" dicto occurrit. Upon which it may 

 be observed, that Dame Juliana Barnes, in her Book of Hunting, ranks the 

 Fulmardc among the beasts of chace ; and that both in the Dictionary of 

 Dr. Adam Littleton, and that of Phillips, entitled the World of IVorJs* 

 it occurs j the first renders it Putor'nts, mus Ponticus; the latter a kind 

 of Polecat. In Junius it is Fullmer, and said to be idem quod Polecat; but 

 in this interpretation they seem all to be mistaken, for Walton here 

 mentions the Polecat by name, as does also Dame Juliana Barnes in her 

 book. 



f See a very curious and entertaining account of the industry and 

 sagacity of this little insect in the Gvtfrtian t No, 156, 



