A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. 223 



will gradually draw up and up iuto the streams, until, 

 by the beginning of May or even a week or two later, 

 when the creeper appears, they have established them- 

 selves in their summer-quarters. 



The same more or less holds good with smaller rivers, 

 only the pools and streams of course lie closer together. 

 The number of flies a trout will capture in an hour 

 is astonishing ; we have seen a 1 lb. trout while in the 

 net cast up on to the roof of his mouth the best part of 

 two score. 



While quietly fishing a stream the angler has frequent 

 opportunities to observe the habits of fish, flesh, and 

 fowl which inhabit its depths and banks ; indeed many 

 of these seem to get accustomed to the angler with his 

 slow methodical movements, and do not pay the same 

 attention to his noiseless procedure as they do to the 

 casual passer-by. 



Of the many curious traits and incidents in animal 

 life which have in this manner come under our obser- 

 vation, perhaps the following, which occurred during 

 the visit under notice, is not the least interesting. 



We had gained the bank after fishing a pool, and 

 happening to cast a glance up stream noticed an object 

 projecting above the surface of the slackish water on the 

 far side, about a hundred yards up stream. 



The object, whatever it might be, was entirely foreign 

 to the situation, but, nevertheless, appeared fixed, as 

 the stream was setting off from it upon either side. 



We hastened to the spot, and were surprised to find 



