148 BY ROOK AND BY CBOOK. 



succulent juicy body ! One would think that the 

 delights of the previous season^s feast would leave such 

 reminiscences as to ensure the trout's immediate recog- 

 nition of him upon liis appearance each successive 

 season. But it is not so ; why, a guess will be hazarded 

 later on. 



The swallows, on the other hand, give the flies no 

 law j and the angler is apt to begrudge the birds their 

 meal, as they rob the fish of the food hatched out of 

 their own special element ; but Nature no doubt pro- 

 vides sufficient for both. It is a pretty sight to watch 

 the swallows dart along in swooping course, picking up 

 the flies so neatly as they go ; and when now and again 

 they make for the angler's artificial bait, they, except 

 upon the rarest occasions, discover their error almost 

 as soon as it is committed. 



The birds appear to grasp the drake across the body, 

 whereas the trout would appear to take them head fore- 

 most, so it seems to us ; and to this habit may perhaps 

 be assigned the cause of the artificial fly so frequently 

 missing the trout's jaws, the shank of the hook being 

 so very long. 



We have seen a trout take the artificial drake two or 

 three times in as many successive casts, and on striking 

 have felt the fish each time, but the hook has come 

 away, evidently without having pricked him. 



So long as the angler keeps out of sight it is 

 remarkable how voracious trout are during the drake 

 season, as, even after having been disappointed in a 



