264 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



Worms are many and various, but there are three or 

 four species which can be easily obtained and will fully 

 satisfy all the requirements of the angler. The black- 

 headed worm is to be found in most garden soils, in the 

 scrapings of a road, or in decayed vegetable matter. It 

 is devoid of the knot which most worms possess, and is of 

 a darkish colour, but after it has been scoured properly it 

 becomes a good clear red. This variety can readily be 

 obtained of the proper size, and lasts long on the hook, 

 being very tough in the skin. It is a very successful bait 

 for all fishes, and is greedily attacked by trout, salmon, 

 and perch. The red-headed worm is to be found in very 

 rich soil, in manure heaps, and at the edges of the soil 

 where the moisture from a manure heap accumulates. It 

 is short and thick, of a strong red colour down the back, 

 and of a bluish shade underneath. It does not make a very 

 good bait, as it soon bleaches in the water and gets flabby. 

 The brandling worm is a great favourite with many anglers, 

 and is iound in old decayed hot-beds or manure heaps. 

 It has rings all round its bod)', and a knot near the middle. 

 Brandlings can be scoured in a few days, but do not 

 toughen, and consequently tear off the hook easily, so it 

 is essential to have a large number of them for a day's 

 fishing ; they do not last long, are not nice to handle, 

 and emit a disagreeable smell when pierced by the hook. 

 The dew worm can be found after dark, when rain has 

 fallen ; candlelight will then reveal them crawling over 

 the ground. These worms are also to be got in the rich 

 banks of a river. They require more scouring than most 

 of the other varieties, but are lively, good baits if obtained 

 the right size. 



