56 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



distinct clouds of insect hovering over the water 

 on the wing, certainly, but making no flight. 

 They were merely dancing in the air about two 

 feet above the pool. Watching closely, I saw the 

 insects gradually decrease this distance until but 

 an inch or two separated the lower extremity of 

 a cloud of them from the water, when directly 

 underneath would come another "smack" as 

 the tail of a trout broke the surface. Immedi- 

 ately the swarm would scatter, though but for 

 an instant, collecting again to perform the same 

 evolution as before, when again they would be 

 scattered by a fish under them. This happened 

 to all four swarms in rapid succession, and it 

 was quite evident that a trout was under each. 

 Every time the insects were close to the water 

 the tail of a trout would be seen and water 

 would be thrown amongst them. Query: Did 

 the trout deliberately throw water at these 

 insects with the intention of drenching those 

 within reach and in order that they might be 

 picked up at leisure after they had fallen into 

 the stream ? And, if so, why were the fish not 

 observed in the act of picking them up? Or 

 did the sight of the insects excite the anger of 

 the fish, or a sport-loving instinct if, indeed, 

 fish are capable of these emotions? 



