CHAP. IV. THE COMPLETE ANGLEtt. 



ami lusty. And he is usually fatter and better meat 

 at the end of that month, [May] than at any time of 

 the year. 



Now you are to know, that it is observed, That 

 usually the best Trouts are either red or yellow ; 

 though some, as the Fordidge Trout, be white and, 

 yet, good; but that is not usual. And it is a note 

 observable, That the female Trout hath usually a less 

 head, and a deeper body than the male Trout, and is 

 usually the better meat. And note, That a hog-back 

 and a little head to either Trout, Salmon, or any 

 other fish is a sign that that fish is in season. 



But yet you are to note, That as you see some wil- 

 lows, or palm-trees, bud and blossom sooner than others 

 do; so some Trouts be, in rivers, sooner in season : and 

 as some hollies, or oaks, are longer before they cast 

 their leaves; so are some Trouts, in rivers, longer before 

 they go cut of season. 



And you are to note, That there are several kinds of 

 Trouts : Bat these several kinds are not considered but 

 by very few men ; for they go under the general name 

 of Trouts, just as pigeons do, in most places ; though 

 it is certain, there are tame and wild pigeons; and of 

 the tame, there be helmits and runts, and carriers and 

 cropers, and indeed too many to name. Nay, the 

 Royal Society have found and published lately, that 

 there bo thirty and three kinds of spiders; and yet all, 

 for aught I know, go under that one general name of 

 spider. And it is so with many kinds of fish, and of 

 Trouts especially ; which differ in their bigness and 

 shape, and spots and colour. The great Kentish hens 

 may be an instance, compared to other hens. And, 

 doubtless, there is a kind of small Trout, which will 

 never thrive to be big ; that breeds very many more 

 than others do, that be of a larger size : which you 

 may rather believe, if you consider that the little wren 

 and titmouse will have twenty young ones at a time, 

 when usually, the noble hawk, or the musical thrassel 

 or blackbird, exceed not four or five. 



And now you shall see me try my skill to catch a 

 Trout. And at my next walking, either this evening or 



