AN ANGLER, A HUNTER, AND A FALCONER 



This for the birds of pleasure, of which very much more 

 might be said. My next shall be of birds of political use; I 

 think 'tis not to be doubted that swallows have been taught 

 to carry letters between two armies. But 'tis certain, that 

 when the Turks besieged Malta or Rhodes, I now remember 

 not which 'twas, Pigeons are then related to carry and recarry 

 letters. And Mr. G. Sandys, in his * Travels,' relates it to be done 

 betwixt Aleppo and Babylon. But if that be disbelieved, 'tis 

 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 

 messenger. And for the Sacrifices of the Law, a pair of Turtle 

 Doves or young Pigeons, were as well accepted 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 evening. 

 Lastly, the Holy Ghost, when he descended visibly upon our 

 Saviour, did it by assuming the shape of a Dove. And to con- 

 clude 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 creature, an 

 inhabitant of my aerial element, namely the laborious Bee, of 

 whose prudence, policy, and regular government of their own 

 common-wealth, 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 

 labour, 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 have made 

 too long a digression ; you are to note, that they are usually 

 distinguished into two kinds ; namely, the Long-winged and 

 the Short-winged Hawk : of the first kind, there be chiefly in 

 use amongst us in this nation, 



The Gerfalcon and Jerkin. 



The Falcon and Tassel-gentle. 



The Laner and Laneret. 



The Bockerel and Bockeret. 



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