登陆注册
15987100000026

第26章

And here let me tell you, what many old anglers know right well, that at some times, and in some waters, a minnow is not to be got; and therefore, let me tell you, I have, which I will shew to you, an artificial minnow, that will catch a Trout as well as an artificial fly: and it was made by a handsome woman that had a fine hand, and a live minnow lying by her: the mould or body of the minnow was cloth, and wrought upon, or over it, thus, with a needle; the back of it with very sad French green silk, and paler green silk towards the belly, shadowed as perfectly as you can imagine, just as you see a minnow: the belly was wrought also with a needle, and it was, a part of it, white silk; and another part of it with silver thread: the tail and fins were of a quill, which was shaven thin: the eyes were of two little black beads: and the head was so shadowed, and all of it so curiously wrought, and so exactly dissembled, that it would beguile any sharp-sighted Trout in a swift stream.And this minnow I will now shew you; look, here it is, and, if you like it, lend it you, to have two or three made by it; for they be easily carried about an angler, and be of excellent use: for note, that a large Trout will come as fiercely at a minnow as the highest-mettled hawk doth seize on a partridge, or a greyhound on a hare.I have been told that one hundred and sixty minnows have been found in a Trout's belly: either the Trout had devoured so many, or the miller that gave it a friend of mine had forced them down his throat after he had taken him.

Now for Flies; which is the third bait wherewith Trouts are usually taken.You are to know, that there are so many sorts of flies as there be of fruits: I will name you but some of them; as the dun-fly, the stone-fly, the red-fly, the moor-fly, the tawny-fly, the shell-fly, the cloudy or blackish-fly, the flag-fly, the vine-fly; there be of flies, caterpillars, and canker-flies, and bear-flies; and indeed too many either for me to name, or for you to remember.And their breeding is so various and wonderful, that I might easily amaze myself, and tire you in a relation of them.

And, yet, I will exercise your promised patience by saying a little of the caterpillar, or the palmer-fly or worm; that by them you may guess what a work it were, in a discourse, but to run over those very many flies, worms, and little living creatures, with which the sun and summer adorn and beautify the river-banks and meadows, both for the recreation and contemplation of us anglers; pleasures which, I think, myself enjoy more than any other man that is not of my profession.

Pliny holds an opinion, that many have their birth, or being, from a dew that in the spring falls upon the leaves of trees; and that some kinds of them are from a dew left upon herbs or flowers; and others from a dew left upon coleworts or cabbages: all which kinds of dews being thickened and condensed, are by the sun's generative heat, most of them, hatched, and in three days made living creatures.and these of several shapes and colours; some being hard and tough, some smooth and soft; some are horned in their head, some in their tail, some have none; some have hair, some none: some have sixteen feet, some less, and some have none: but, as our Topsel hath with great diligence observed, those which have none, move upon the earth, or upon broad leaves, their motion being not unlike to the waves of the sea.Some of them he also observes to be bred of the eggs of other caterpillars, and that those in their time turn to be butterflies; and again, that their eggs turn the following year to be caterpillars And some affirm, that every plant has its particular fly or caterpillar, which it breeds and feeds.Ihave seen, and may therefore affirm it, a green caterpillar, or worm, as big as a small peascod, which had fourteen legs; eight on the belly, four under the neck, and two near the tail.It was found on a hedge of privet;and was taken thence, and put into a large box, and a little branch or two of privet put to it, on which I saw it feed as sharply as a dog gnaws a bone: it lived thus, five or six days, and thrived, and changed the colour two or three times but by some neglect in the keeper of it, it then died and did not turn to a fly: but if it had lived, it had doubtless turned to one of those flies that some call Flies of prey, which those that walk by the rivers may, in summer, see fasten on smaller flies, and, I think, make them their food.And 'tis observable, that as there be these flies of prey, which be very large; so there be others, very little, created, I think, only to feed them, and breed out of I know not what; whose life, they say, nature intended not to exceed an hour; and yet that life is thus made shorter by other flies, or accident.

'Tis endless to tell you what the curious searchers into nature's productions have observed of these worms and flies: but yet I shall tell you what Aldrovandus, our Topsel, and others, say of the Palmer-worm, or Caterpillar: that whereas others content themselves to feed on particular herbs or leaves; for most think, those very leaves that gave them life and shape, give them a particular feeding and nourishment, and that upon them they usually abide; yet he observes, that this is called a pilgrim, or palmer-worm, for his very wandering life, and various food; not contenting himself, as others do, with any one certain place for his abode, nor any certain kind of herb or flower for his feeding, but will boldly and disorderly wander up and down, and not endure to be kept to a diet, or fixt to a particular place.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 冰心自述

    冰心自述

    本书由冰心向读者讲述自己的人生。内容包括:童年与故乡、北京的色彩、文学生活、天涯行旅、往事与家。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 至尊力神

    至尊力神

    汉唐大陆,幅员辽阔东方,仙族领地,唯灵称雄西方,魔族之城,尊力为宗北方,妖王横行,血皇称霸南方,人族之所,龙蛇混杂中州,天下之心,争霸之所,高手如云,有四象镇守凌风,蜀山剑宗一废材,因缘巧合,修力元,寻命魂,弑神魔,战天地,成就至尊力神……
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 恶魔少爷的独家回忆

    恶魔少爷的独家回忆

    从小霸道自大的豪门恶魔少爷,在爱斯蒂兰学院拥有一‘恶魔’称号。而当恶魔少爷遇上纯情呆萌小丫头,又会如何抉择呢?属于恶魔的悲伤,虐恋情缘即将开启。
  • 换一种方式思考人生:你不可不知的72个人生道理

    换一种方式思考人生:你不可不知的72个人生道理

    本书分为九个方面,从全新的角度阐释生活的智慧,包括:生存、处世、名利、关系、宽心、幸福、得失、成功、生活。
  • 将天屠

    将天屠

    世间一切至凶至恶至毒之力,都可化为屠天煞气,为我所用!天下所有至尊强者,都将为我麾下牛马,任我一个眼神,便要他魂飞魄散,身死人灭。世间所有天材地宝,便只能有我一个主人!若在我手,无人能夺。若不在我手,我定要夺来!重铸凶器,只为站在巅峰,杀回那遥遥九重天,屠尽那苍苍漫天神。我,就是楚凡,我,代号‘屠天’P:开篇十万简单粗暴小白文,黑狗血、白狗血、黄狗血怒撒江头等君喷。若喷累了,不妨追看十万后,十万后剧情跌宕够创新,节奏爽快有内涵。
  • 幻影神弓

    幻影神弓

    男生陈琛一连七天在网吧玩游戏,最终因为体力不支,倒在键盘上,可是!他竟然来到了临死前正在玩的游戏中!与此同时,一直喜欢陈琛的女孩林琳,为了查明陈琛离去的真相登陆游戏竟然发现惊天秘密!
  • 早安,总裁大人

    早安,总裁大人

    得了癌症喝了酒,打定主意要睡了男神!谁知道,一觉醒来,这人是谁啊?俊俏是俊俏,可她男神呢?趁着这人还没醒,她灰溜溜桃之夭夭!谁知,这人竟然还像牛皮糖一样黏上来了!一来二去,孩子都怀上了!她被他囚在臂膀之间,呜呼哀哉:“总裁饶命啊!”这是个睡错男人嫁对郎的故事。
  • 天门重生逆天下

    天门重生逆天下

    身为天山童姥,死在自己徒弟手下,有木有搞错?神秘面具店老板,怎么看都那么熟悉。武林盟主出场,什么喜欢她?片段——“小舞姑娘,有没有人说过你说话有些缺德?”“说我缺德的人已经在棺材里躺着了,怎么你也想让我送你一程?”某女“额……你当我没有说过。”记住这里男强,女强。强强练手,什么武林高手来吧!