THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 65 



But yet you are to note, that as you see some willows or palm- 

 trees bud and blossom sooner than others do, so some trouts be 



March -brown, the cow-dung, a small hackle nearly black, the ever-killing 

 red-hackle, and, as the season advances, the stonc-Jli/, each variously trimmed 

 to suit the time of day, state of the atmosphere, and color of the water. 

 Fancy may increase the list, though not to much advantage, until a warm 

 sun brings out the yellow green of the May fly. I subjoin an exquisite 

 little song by that capital angler Stoddart. in his " Angling Reminiscences." 

 The reader will believe with me that it is as true to nature, as it is to the 

 best spirit of the English lyric. 



" Sing, sweet thrushes, forth and sing I 

 Meet the morn upon the lea ; 

 Are the emeralds of spring 

 On the angler's trysting tree .' 

 Tell, sweet thrushes, tell to me ! 

 Are there buds on our willow tree .' 

 Buds and birds on our trysting tree ? 



" Sing, sweet thrushes, forth and sing ! 

 Have you met the honey bee 

 Circling upon rapid wing 



Round the angler's trysting tree 1 

 Up, sweet thrushes, up and see ! 

 Are there bees at our willow tree .' 

 Birds and bees at the trysting tree .'' 



" Sing, sweet thrushes, forth and sing ! 

 Are the fountains gushing free ; 

 Is the south wind wandering 



Through the angler's trysting tree .' 

 Up, sweet thrushes, tell to me ! 

 Is there wind up our willow tree .' 

 Wind or calm at our trysting tree ? 



" Sing, sweet thrushes, forth and sing ! 

 Wile us with a merry glee, 

 To the flowery haunts of spring, 

 To the angler's trysting tree. 

 Tell, sweet thrushes, tell to me ! 

 Are there flowers 'neath our willow tree .' 

 Spring and flowers at the trysting tree ?" 



Leaves upon the willow, birds singing, bees humming, the water full 



