CHAP, f.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 47 



enly employment, grows then mute and sad to think she must 

 descend to the dull earth, which she would not touch but for 

 necessity. 



How do the Blackbird and Thrassel with their melodious 

 voices bid welcome to the cheerful spring, and in their fixed 

 mouths warble forth such ditties as no art or instrument can 

 reach to ! 



Nay, the smaller birds also do the like in their particular 

 seasons, as namely the Laverock, the Titlark, the little Linnet, 

 and the honest Robin, that loves mankind both alive and dead. 



But the Nightingale, another of my airy creatures, breathes 

 such sweet loud music out of her little instrumental throat, 

 that it might make mankind to think miracles are not ceased. 

 He that at midnight, when the very laborer sleeps securely, 

 should hear, as I have very often, the clear airs, the sweet des- 

 cants, the natural rising and falling, the doubling and re- 

 doubling of her voice, might well be lifted above earth, and 

 say, "Lord, what music hast thou provided for the saints in 

 heaven, when thou affordest bad men such music on earth ! " 



And this makes me the less to wonder at the many aviaries in 

 Italy, or at the great charge of Varro his aviary, the ruins of 

 which are yet to be seen in Rome, and is still so famous there, 

 that it is reckoned for one of those notables which men of 

 foreign nations either record, or lay up in their memories when 

 they return from travel. 



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 't is not to be doubted that Swallows have been taught 

 to carry letters between two armies. But 't is certain that, 

 when the Turks besieged Malta or Rhodes, I now remember 

 not which *t was, 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, 

 't is 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 



