OF BAIT, AND THEIR PRESERVATION. 859 



and knotted, and of a bright red colour. They are also found 

 in almost every heap of horse-dung that has much straw 

 rotted in it. The cow-dung red-worm is found in the fields 

 and in nearly dry flakes of dung : their heads are shiny dark- 

 brown, with flat tails. They are very good as baits, and 

 may occasionally be used, immediately after being taken ; but 

 are always best when scoured and preserved like other 

 worms. 



The GiLT-TAiLS. — These worms are paler and larger than 

 the red-worms, are knotted like them, and of a pale yellow 

 hue, especially towards the tail. The poet Gay, in his 

 " Rural Sports," expresses his approbation of this gilt-tail, in 

 the following lines : — 



" You must not every worm promiscuous use, 

 Judgment will tell thee proper baits to choose ; 

 The worm that draws a long immodei'ate size, 

 The trout abhors, and the rank morsel flies ; 

 And if too small, the naked fraud's in sight. 

 And fear forbids, while hunger does invite. 

 Those baits will best reward the fisher's pains, 

 Whose polish'd tails a shining yellow stains : 

 Cleanse them from filth, to give a tempting gloss, 

 Cherish the sullied reptile race with moss ; 

 Amid the verdant bed they twine, they toil. 

 And from their bodies wipe their native soil." 



The slender red-worm is found in all loamy-soils, may 

 be collected by following the plough, turning up garden- 

 soil, and under boards, bricks, slates, stones, tiles, &c., that 

 have lain undisturbed for any time. These four worms may 

 be preserved together in one pot ; and when the brandlings or 

 others are meant to be used, let the angler, the evening be- 

 fore, pick them out by themselves, and put them into a bag, 

 with moss moistened with white, thinnish cream, and they 

 will appear more bright and tempting to the fish. 



