PREFACE. xi 
berless and varied forms of animal and vege- 
table life, which can hardly fail to arrest his 
attention and excite his interest, many of them, 
by reason of the silence and quiet necessary 
for his sport, being seen to especial advantage ; 
all these things combine not only to present 
the works of Nature before him in their most 
attractive form, but at the same time pecu- 
liarly dispose his mind to meditate on the 
impressions they can scarcely fail to make on 
it. The Book of Nature is in fact opened 
before his eyes—nay, obtruded on his notice 
—written in such distinct and inviting cha- 
racters, that he must indeed be blind of eye, 
‘and dull of apprehension, if he do not, to 
some extent at any rate, attain to a know- 
ledge and a love of her language. 
It is scarcely to be wondered then, that, 
springing from all these associations, there 
should insensibly arise in the Angler’s mind 
a cordial sympathy with and appreciation of 
the delights and wonders of Nature, such as 
I am persuaded no other class of men (taken 
collectively) possesses, 
