COMMON TROUT. 229 



and is able to overcome. A rat or frog is not at this time 

 an unwelcome prey. In summer, however, and when no better 

 shelter is near, a casual hiding-place, at least to those of no 

 large size, is beneath a stone in water that is not deep; and 

 in this situation they are sometimes caught by a practise which 

 Willoughby seems to intimate as only known in England. 

 There is reason to suppose this fish feels even a pleasure when 

 a tickling action is felt by the motion of fingers, as they are 

 gently pressed along the under portions of its body; for it 

 remains still until an opportunity is afforded of grasping it at 

 the gills, and thus securing the capture. 



The roe is shed on the approach of the colder months; and 

 for this purpose these fish proceed upward to the more retired 

 and shallower brooks, and as near as may be to their source. 

 It is covered with sand or gravel in miniature imitation of the 

 actions of the Salmon; but the grains are developed in a 

 shorter time than are those of that fish. In a course of obser- 

 vations referred to in the "Zoologist" for 1855, it was observed 

 that from the time of bursting the egg to the full development 

 was fifteen days; but before this, and afterwards, they are 

 exposed to devastation similar to that which when a little grown 

 they inflict on others; and it has been remarked that the 

 Minnow is one of the principal devourers; but the injury thus 

 inflicted on the race is soon afterwards repayed with vengeance. 



The growth of the young Trout is speedy, but much of this 

 depends on the sort of food that comes in their way; and we 

 may judge that the bulk which they at last reach will greatly 

 depend on what they obtain, of quality as well as quantity, 

 at their outset in life; for sometimes there are districts in the 

 same river where the fish are found of larger size than in 

 any other part of it. In a set of trials made by Mr. Stoddart, 

 examples were placed in three separate tanks, in one of which 

 they were supplied with worms, in another with living Minnows, 

 and in the third with those small dark-coloured water-flies which 

 are to be found moving about on the surface under banks and 

 sheltered places. The Trouts fed with worms grew slowly, and 

 had a lean appearance; those nourished on Minnows, which, 

 it was observed, they darted at with great voracity, became 

 much larger; while such as were fattened upon flies only, 

 attained in a short time prodigious dimensions, weighing twice 



