A ROADSIDE NATURALIST. 27 



" as he runs," most freely, he will find fish-studies a 

 very different matter. When I have tried to make 

 some close observations of the sort myself, it has not 

 always turned out either to my own satisfaction or 

 to that of the miller, and it has led me into some 

 awkward positions. 



If a pond is required for cattle-drinking purposes 

 at a farmhouse, they generally lead the runnels from 

 the meadows to the spot where they wish to make 

 one. In these ponds there are usually fish, and 

 good ones too ; for where the cattle drink and the 

 ducks dabble about, there is a continual supply of 

 good food, insect-life following the cattle even to the 

 water's edge. 



Any angler, of course, will tell in less than ten 

 minutes if a pool or stream has got fish in it. Cer- 

 tain fish have certain actions in the water : slight 

 though these may be, they are sufficient to let the 

 initiated observer know what are there. There 

 is, however, in some cases a crabbed cantankerous 

 host to deal with, who, even after you have pro- 

 pitiated him with good pay for the right to fish 

 in his water, will harry you with advice and re- 

 strictions. 



