ON THE TROUT. 7 



at his prey, and as quickly return. The station 

 which he occupies in this manner is invariably 

 well chosen. Should a favourite haunt where 

 food is concentrated by the current be rather 

 crowded by his fellows, he will prefer contending 

 with them for a share in it, to residing long in 

 an unproductive locality. 



A Trout will chiefly frequent one place during 

 all the summer months. It is well known that 

 he quits the larger waters, and ascends the 

 smaller brooks for the purpose of spawning in 

 October and November, when the male assists 

 the female in making a hole in the gravel where- 

 in to deposit the ova. By some it is supposed, 

 that they both lie dormant in the mud during 

 the greatest severity of the winter. 



Sense of Hearing. 



In order that we might be enabled to ascertain 

 the truth of a common assertion, (viz.) that fish 

 can hear voices in conversation on the banks of 

 a stream, my friend, the Rev. Mr. Brown, of 

 Gratwich, and myself, selected for close observa- 

 tion a Trout poised about six inches deep in the 

 water, whilst a third gentleman, who was situ- 

 ated behind the fishing-house, (i.e.) diametri- 

 cally opposite to the side where the fish was, 

 fired off one barrel of his gun. The possibility 

 of the flash being seen by the fish was thus 



