OF THE FISHES 145 



on the hard, resounding turf, and peers 

 over at the little shoal of grayling float- 

 ing above the red-brown gravel. The 

 elegant formation of their bodies, the 

 finely modelled heads, the silvery blue 

 of the scales, the rainbow hues of the 

 great dorsal fins, gently waving, make 

 a combination beautiful to look at. Pres- 

 ently a big fellow of more than a pound 

 weight comes sailing by, and the smaller 

 crew respectfully make way for him. 

 He reminds one of a stately yacht which , 

 unexpectedly appearing,clean and white, 

 with the romance of an unknown sea 

 about her, makes her graceful way be- 

 tweenahostof little pleasure-boatswhich 

 glide sideways from her path, bobbing 

 respectful curtseys as they go. A purple 

 sheen infuses his steely flanks, and the 

 softly fanning fins betray delicate tones 

 of olive-green, yellow, and red. 



A stealthy retreat is now made by the 

 angler, whose covetous designs are left 

 10 



