SALMON ANGLING IN IRELAND. 247 



eyes, for there, sailing at the head of a bevy of ducks, were a pair 

 of mallards, in plumage as rich as ever gladdened the sight of a needy 

 angler. Except being a little larger, the markings were identical 

 with those of the wild birds. Who could be the proprietor of such 

 treasures ? Boys are plenty in Donegal : 



"I say, Patsy, do you know whose ducks those are ? " 



"Ned Casey's, your honour." 



"Would he lend them for a few minutes? I should like to 

 borrow as many as could be got, for threepence apiece ; the two in 

 front I mean." 



" That's quare now," observed Patsy, scratching his head in a 

 contemplative manner ; " berrying drakes ! Who ever heard the 

 like ? But your honour's will must be done ; it's plinty ye'll have ; " 

 and then, in a parting soliloquy, " 0, Peter I What will he do wid 

 'em at all, at all ? " 



Anxious on the score of the flies to be used that day on the 

 Inver, I soon returned, and found my servant had completed three 

 for grilse and half a dozen for white trout, as far as the shoulders. 

 These were duly disposed on a sheet of paper, whilst he rummaged 

 our stock in hope of finding what he needed. In this hunt I 

 joined ; envelopes were opened, papers examined, manifold tin boxes 

 searched, but not a mallard could be found. The rain, which had 

 ceased an hour or two before sunrise, showed symptoms of again 

 coming on, whilst the wind sighed and rustled through the poplars 

 below the Castle. "How provoking! " to my poor follower, who 

 was gloomily re-arranging the disordered bundles ; " 'twill be a 

 glorious day, and here we are without anything fit to use." 



Stepping to the window to make a more correct estimate of the 

 weather, I noticed an unusual number of boys " all in a row," on the 

 low parapet by the river, gazing earnestly at the window. Could 

 the chimney be on fire ? But what on earth had each urchin under 

 his arm? I had quite forgotten the liberal order about the drakes, 

 and was now agreeably reminded of it by seeing a green head and 

 yellow bill protruded half a yard or so beyond the line of each 

 borrower's person. " There they are !" cried I, pointing into the 



