SOUR-MTLK GILL. 57 



worth while to try the beck, were it merely 

 for the sake of comparison. 



AMICUS. This " beck," as you call the rivulet, 

 is in its broken rapid course a good example 

 of the mountain stream ; and what a fine fall 

 is this we are just come to; the volume of 

 water, white in foam, making one clear leap 

 over the black rock into the deep ruffled pool 

 below. 



PISCATOR. That is Sour-milk-gill ; and in 

 that pool between two no inconsiderable falls, 

 in that dubb, as such a pool is here called, 

 where you would least expect to find a fish, you 

 will, if you make a cast, probably get a rise, 

 and hook one. 



AMICUS. See, I have one! and how dark 

 and ill formed ; how large its head, how lank 

 its body, and how shattered its tail-fin. Poor 

 fish ! what a specimen of the half starved and 

 tempest-tossed. I infer by mishap it has come 

 down the cataract and got imprisoned. And 

 lo ! now I have opened it, though this is July, 

 there are a few ova of full size loose within. 



PISCATOR. The fact is worthy of note, and 

 pray make a note of it ; see, they are trans- 

 parent, and without any marks of development. 



