70 BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



mentally that concussion actually had this effect on 

 the unhatched eggs, producing spinal curvature in 

 the young fish ; only those but slightly injured 

 survived and grew up into Hog-backed Trout. 



This theory seems scarcely applicable to Trout in 

 ponds, especially as similarly deformed Perch are 

 known from isolated localities in our islands and in 

 Scandinavia ; here we seem to be dealing with in- 

 herited malformations. Mr. Harvie Brown says that 

 Fheor's Lochan in Sutherlandshire is a small, deep, 

 clear spring pool fed by a steep mountain burn, 

 which glides slowly for i6o yards before entering 

 the pool ; the Trout grow to a good size and are 

 known as " Hump-backed Trout." He caught only 

 one specimen, which he describes as of vigorous 

 build, very handsome, and with the hump very 

 pronounced. 



Trout are generally fond of rapid streams, but 

 will flourish in any piece of water which is suffici- 

 ently pure, and where the Pike are not too numerous, 

 and it is in the deeper pools or in lakes that the 

 largest fish are to be looked for. Trout will often 

 lie under the shadow of a tree or of an overhanging 

 bank, or one may be seen just behind a large stone 

 which protects him from the full force of the current. 

 As a rule, they feed most actively early in the morn- 

 ing or towards the evening, so that it has been said 

 that the fisherman cannot be too early or too late 

 on the water, but their appetite varies according 

 to the nature of the day, the condition of the water, 

 etc., which also determine whether they lie low or 

 feed at the surface. 



Their diet consists of shrimps, water-snails, insects, 

 worms, etc., and small fish, such as Minnows or the 



