AND ANGLING SONGS. 377 



been thrown off the feed on the gravel stretches higher up by the 

 intrusion of a roving yellow-fin, which has no set hold, and pur- 

 sues in consequence different tactics from his confreres, are 

 driven down, many of them, in the direction of the occupied for- 

 talices ; and when the body of fry is in a full state of bewilder- 

 ment, advantage is taken by the watchful enemy to leave his 

 anchoring ground, and bear down upon them. 



Such attacks or sallies frequently assume the more protracted 

 form of a chase, and discover all the characteristics which dis- 

 tinguish greyhound sport. I have often witnessed a course of 

 this description, in which a couple of large trout took part, 

 apparently by common consent. The way in which they con- 

 ducted matters showed method and a considerable degree of judg- 

 ment. They cast about the shallow ford in parallel lines, not far 

 from each other, as if beating cover, or rather walking up game, 

 and having started their quarry, gave chase with rival keenness. 

 The object of pursuit, in all the instances which have come under 

 my notice, seemed at once to comprehend the extent of its dan- 

 ger, and betrayed this intuitive perception of an alliance formed 

 against it, by the dexterous efforts it made to escape. Like poor 

 puss, it appeared to be quite aware that its chances, on being 

 hard pressed, of baffling its pursuers, lay in doubling and short- 

 turning, which manoeuvres its inferior length enabled it to execute 

 with astonishing rapidity. When over-shooting the mark, how- 

 ever, the hunting fish seldom lost sight of their original game, 

 but, on recovery, stuck to it with increased eagerness, although 

 constantly crossed on the line of chase by small fry, to all ap- 

 pearance as seductive. A common resource of the fugitive, by 

 means of which I have frequently seen it manage to escape, was 

 to scuttle away to the extreme shallows, of which, lying close to 

 the abutments of the arches of Kelso bridge, there are several. 

 Under these circumstances, its relentless persecutors usually 

 slacken pace, but when close upon the rear of their prey, would 



