FLY FISHING FOR TROUT 11 



any river, though it may flow through what to the 

 casual observer would seem to be but a dull and 

 uninteresting country. As soon as ever he is actually 

 on the water, so to speak, he must be conscious, if 

 worth his salt as a fisherman, of all that Nature has 

 placed before him for his notice. Though the 

 country down to the river's brim be flat and uninvit- 

 ing, still, as the water's influence is felt, there appear 

 beautiful creations for his attention, and if he be wise, 

 for his careful study. 



The masses of orange celandine ; the iris, stand- 

 ing in bold relief, with its yellow spikes of flowers 

 uplifting themselves among their graceful leaves; 

 the forms of the myriad wild flowers upon the 

 banks, should gladden both eye and mind; while, 

 should any coppice or wood approach the river, then 

 at various seasons the starwort, herb robin, bluebell, 

 forget-me-not, anemone, wild mignonette, and, in the 

 North, the wild geranium, lend their gracious aid to the 

 beauty of the scene, by the carpet of deftly blended 

 colours which they spread over the land. 



And what shall be said of the bird-life which is 

 always to be found by the riverside ? Nightingale, 

 peewit, redstart, summer snipe, kingfisher, blackcap, 

 and a hundred other kinds, all seem to select a 

 stream as their favourite haunt; and the value 



