78 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



water, into the sharp streams, and the gravel, and there 

 rubs of! these worms or lice ; and then as he grows stronger, 

 so he gets him into swifter and swifter streams, and there 

 lies at the watch for any fly or minnow that comes near 

 to him ; and he especially loves the May-fly, which is bred 

 of the cod-worm or cadis ; and these make the trout bold 

 and lusty, and he is usually fatter and better meat at that 

 end of that month [May] than at any time of the year. 



Now you are to know that it is observed, that usually 

 the best trouts are either red or yellow ; though some 

 (as the Fordidge trout) be white and yet good ; but that 

 is not usual : and it is a note observable, that the female 

 trout hath usually a less head, and a deeper body than 

 the male trout, and is usually the better meat. And note, 

 that a hog-back and a little head to either trout, salmon, 

 or any other fish, is a sign that that fish is in 

 season. 



But yet you are to note, that as you see some willows 

 or palm-trees bud and blossom sooner than others do, 

 so some trouts be, in rivers, sooner in season : and as some 

 hollies or oaks are longer before they cast their leaves, 

 so are some trouts in rivers longer before they go out of 

 season. 



And you are to note, that there are several kinds of 

 trouts : but these several kinds are not considered but by 

 very few men ; for they go under the general name of 

 trouts : just as pigeons do, in most places ; though, it is 

 certain, there are tame and wild pigeons ; and of the 

 tame, there be helmets and runts, and carriers and cropers, 

 and indeed too many to name. Nay, the Royal Society 

 have found and published lately, that there be thirty and 

 three kinds of spiders ; and yet all, for aught I know, 

 go under that one general name of spider. And it is so 

 with many kinds of fish, and of trouts especially ; which 

 differ in their bigness and shape and spots and colour. 

 The great Kentish hens may be an instance, compared 



