LITERATURE OF ANGLING. 



269 



" Talking of books and fishing, Effendi, did you ever 

 come across the ' Dyalogus Creaturarum ?' " 



"Yes, I have the Gouda edition of Leeu, 1482 I believe 

 is the date." 



" There's a comical little picture of a fisherman in it, 

 illustrating a fabled talk between two fish. I don't know 

 whether there is any older picture of the gentle art in ex- 

 istence, but that is worth noting as a historical illustration, 

 for the angler there uses a float."* 



" The literature of angling is abundant, and art has al- 

 ways found ample range in its illustration. I have seen 

 a score of pictures of fishing on ancient Egyptian monu- 

 ments. Many modern artists are enthusiastic anglers. 

 And in what kind of life could they find more of the beau- 

 tiful ? Look at a trout. Is there any object more exqui- 

 sitely beautiful ?" 



" Yes, a small rattlesnake." 



" Gaudy, Major, and brilliant, but the brilliancy of the 



* I have thought the Major's suggestion so good that I here repro- 

 duce the illustration, in fac-simile, from the "Dyalogus Creaturarum." 

 Gouda, Gerard Leeu, 1482. 



