FOOD OF SALMON. 189 



rarely happens; and when I have seen it, the 

 water has been coloured. 



Phys. — Can you tell us why the fish rise 

 better at the fly when the tide is flowing, than 

 when it is ebbing ? There seems no reason 

 why flies should be sought for by the fish 

 at one of these seasons, rather than at the 

 other. 



Hal. — The turn of the salt water brings 

 up aquatic insects, and perhaps small fish; 

 and I suppose salmon know this, and search 

 for food at a time when it is likely to be 

 found. I cannot think, that in these pools 

 they can be on the look-out for flies, for there 

 are never any on the surface of the water; 

 and I imagine they take the gaudy fly, with 

 its blue kingfisher and golden pheasant's fea- 

 thers, for a small fish. 



Orn. — I have always supposed, that they 

 took it for a libella, or dragon-fly ; for I have 

 often seen these brilliant flies haunting the 

 water. 



Hal. — I never saw a dragon-fly drop on 

 the water, or taken by a fish ; and salmon 

 sometimes rise even in the salt water, where 



