LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 351 



in semi-darkness under the banks on the mud, are a 

 few tench. 



There are several jacks not far off ; but, though they 

 prey on the roach, it is noticeable that, unless driven 

 by some one passing by, they rarely go into these 

 deep holes. The jack lies in shallower water and 

 keeps close to the shore under shelter of the flags, or 

 concealed behind the weeds. It is as if he under- 

 stood that every now and then the shoal of roach will 

 pass round the curve going from one pool to the other 

 when they have to swim through the shallower 

 water. Sometimes a solitary fish will shift quarters 

 like this, and must go by the jack lying in ambush. 



At the top of the tongue of land (which is planted 

 with withy) another brook joins the first : this brook 

 is very deep, and all but stagnant. In the quiet back- 

 water here close to and yet out of the swifter stream 

 is another haunt of the jack. 



If alarmed, he does not swim straight up or down 

 the centre of the current, but darts half a dozen 

 yards in a slanting direction across the stream, and 

 hides under another floating weed. Then, if started 

 afresh, he makes another zigzag, and conceals himself 

 once more. At first he remains till you could touch 

 him, if you tried, with a long stick ; but at every 

 remove he grows more suspicious, till at last as you 

 approach he is off immediately. 



Jacks lie a great deal in the still, deep ponds that 

 open off the brook or are connected with it by a deep 

 ditch ; they have been known to find their way up to 



