6 TROUT-FISHING IN BROOKS 



On such as wander through wild glens o'er- 

 shadowed by heights, amid rocks and heather, if 

 the angler love solitude, he may meet with but a 

 stray shepherd, and realise that " sweetness in 

 the mountain air ' ' to the full. Should inclination 

 lead him to those that flow through a richer 

 country, through lush meadows, and pastures 

 where the cattle stand knee-deep, lazing the 

 hours away, or where the trees meeting overhead 

 form a glorious canopy, other charms await him. 

 Here are leafy dells and flower-spangled meads, 

 where from the time of primroses and bluebells 

 to when the ripe blackberry clusters droop over 

 the stream, the scene is ever fresh and full with 

 delights to the lover of nature, which every true 

 angler should be if he hopes to extract complete 

 sweetness from his outings. 



Such an one will note so many things which 

 appeal to him. The sapphire and russet flash of 

 his brother fisherman, the kingfisher, darting past 

 his rod, that dainty little gentleman in evening 

 dress with white waistcoat, the water ouzel, 

 bowing to him from a rock ere he, too, flits by ; 

 the vole, as with outstretched, furry tail, he 

 leisurely swims across some dark pool. And 

 everywhere there are ferns and flowers. What 

 man but will experience a calm enjoyment, a 



