AND ANGLING SONGS. 115 



halo -encircled maculae, regularly distributed above and below the 

 lateral line, over a rich orange-coloured ground, which, as it 

 approached the dorsal curve, assumed a violet tinge, and passed 

 ultimately into a deep purple. The fins and tail were muscu- 

 larly formed, but in point of size gave no indication of the pos- 

 session of speed or power greater than what is held by the salar. 

 Of teeth it had the usual complement pertaining to our common 

 river-trout. They were adapted certainly to the seizure of small 

 fish, but did not, on that account, denote indulgence in rapacious 

 and cannibal propensities, to the exclusion of insect, or even 

 vegetable diet. I mention vegetable sustenance, for it is no 

 doubt engrossed to a large extent by fresh-water trout, and in the 

 case of this particular individual, which was cooked and eaten at 

 Achinduich on the day it was taken, although it cut redder than 

 salmon, the flavour was weedy in the extreme. The kind of 

 trout just described is rarely, I was told, met with in Loch Shin, 

 in comparison with the coarser sort first mentioned ; but it 

 approaches nearer in structure and general appearance to the 

 legitimate ferox of Loch Awe. The fish aspiring to this designa- 

 tion taken by me on Loch Assynt bore the characteristics of the 

 more coarsely-formed trout antecedently described. 



WHEN THE ANGLER GOES A-TROLLING. 



THE bell-throats o' the bonnie birds ring 

 When the angler goes a-trolling ; 



The chiding east wind droops his wing, 

 And Summer trips the step of Spring, 



When the angler goes a-trolling. 



