SALMON ANOLINO IN IRELAND. 91 



ever, occurred to better our condition, so having beached the boat* 

 we lay down under a tree to lunch. Had a Cuyp or Sidney Cooper 

 been there, he might have stocked his portfolio for life. How 

 exquisite were the colours, 



By Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on ! 



how deep the tranquil enjoyment of such a time and place ! Does 

 this feeling arise from the possession of simple habits and tastes, 

 mere idleness, or dislike of restraint; or is it that, getting out of the 

 world, we get out of nine-tenths of the annoyances, vexations, shines, 

 rows, scrimmages, and infernal hullabaloos that sour our tempers 

 and bring on the gout ? 



Perhaps a little of each made up the sum of lazy delight with 

 which I flung myself down in the fragrant fern, and listened to the 

 drowsy song of ten thousand gnats, and the more drowsy hum of my 

 companions. 



Several boats were floating idly on the lake, at least half of which 

 contained one or more of our countrymen, with whom Mullingar is 

 a favourite haunt. No doubt it is an excellent quarter, though 

 personally I should prefer the quieter waters of Sligo and Roscommon, 

 and make Boyle head-quarters during the too brief reign of the 

 Drake. 



The trout in all the lakes differ widely from each other, in colour, 

 size, and shape. Let us compare for a moment those of the water 

 before us with the denizens of Dereveragh and Lough Owel. The 

 fish of Belvidere are smaller than those of Dereveragh, which in turn 

 are less than those of Lough Owel, but in my judgment they excel 

 all others in form and flavour. In the clear springs of Lough Owel 

 the trout are silvery and very fine ; one weighing 12-^lb. being killed 

 in our boat, as will be shown hereafter, and another as large or 

 larger as was asserted by competent authority hooked and lost. 

 Li Dereveragh 41b., 51b., 61b., and 71b. are figures not uncommon, and 

 in colour and proportion they hold a medium position as compared 

 with their kinsfolk in the two lakes so frequently mentioned, being 

 less brilliant than the one, and less heavy than the other. 



