MORE FISHING NOTES. 255 



minutely, taking whole days over it. What I have 

 found would give my readers matter for wonder. 

 The vast food - supply contained there was some- 

 thing marvellous. The pike, for instance, must have 

 weeds both for shelter and for food-stores ; he will 

 not flourish without them. Reeds, weeds, and pike 

 are inseparable in my mind. As I have lain in 

 that brook luxuriating in the moist warmth, after the 

 sun had been shining brightly in midsummer, I have 

 felt the gudgeons, loaches, and the miller's thumbs 

 scuttle over my body nay, even resting on me as 

 I lay. That brook was alive with pike, perch, trout, 

 roach, gudgeon, loach, and miller's thumbs. 



By the way, even the viper is a most expert 

 swimmer. I have seen him by the brook-side : a 

 dreaded foe to the mouse family he is. That rep- 

 tile is far more feared than he deserves to be. In 

 our brook there was room for all boys, birds, fish, 

 and reptiles. 



One day we were told we could not go there 

 any more. What ! not bathe and fish in our be- 

 loved brook ? We could not credit our ears, and 

 we hooted our informant as only boys can hoot. 

 Then we went there again at once, in defiance. 



