/ 



TROUT AND CHAR 



larger when several years old than the one shown in 

 Fig. 36. Of these I have caught as many as 60 in one 

 day in a sequestered glen in the glorious Island of Arran. 

 Although so small these little fish afford quite good 

 sport, being strong-willed and very tenacious. As a 

 rule, Trout spawn in late Autumn. When that wondrous 

 episode, the rise of the Mayfly, takes place, many a cool- 

 bellied Trout has the feast of his life. The momentary 

 airy creatures soon fall upon the surface of the water 

 to the dance of death, and whilst being borne down- 

 stream, w^ary old fish that have carried out a similar 

 proceeding in years gone by, just wait and watch their 

 opportunity. As long as the flight lasts the Trout have 

 a right royal time, as also the Swallows which are also 

 attracted to the feast. Whilst some Trout are silver, 

 light-yellow, greenish, or even purple in ground colour, 

 others are very dark, almost black. Others, probably 

 old warriors who have seen their best days, take on a 

 greyish, old-age look. The ornate spots which are found 

 on various parts of the body, sometimes in profusion, at 

 others only sparsely distributed, may be black, brown, or 

 red. They also vary in shape and size. The dorsal fin 

 is often spotted, as well as the body. The Trout has a 

 fine array of small sharp teeth. 



Char. (Fig. 37). — As has been mentioned in the intro- 

 ductory notes to the third section of this volume, no less 

 than 15 so-called species of Char are claimed as British 

 fishes. Most of these occur in deep and cold mountain 



lakes in Great Britain and Ireland, and it is quite im- 

 F 71 



