DIFFERENT KINDS OF WORMS. 143 



annoyance and loss of time. "With them also the 

 angler gets over the ground at a much slower rate 

 than when his worm comes down almost at the 

 same rate as the stream. This opinion about 

 sinkers is held by almost all the best worm-fishers ; 

 and some Tweedside adepts never use them under 

 any circumstances. 



Many different kinds of worms are used by the 

 angler, but the four following are held in highest 

 estimation, and are also to be found in greatest 

 abundance. In Edinburgh they may be had ready 

 for use at a very moderate price ; but in country 

 places the angler will frequently require to dig 

 and prepare his own bait, or he will be but 

 indifferently provided, and therefore it behoves 

 him to know the places where he may find them, 

 and how to prepare them. 



THE BLACK-HEADED WORM. This worm is 

 usually found in good garden soil, or among heaps 

 of decayed rubbish, and may be known by being 

 free from the knot which most worms have. As 

 its name signifies, it has a black head, and when 

 taken from the earth is of a darkish colour 

 throughout, which it loses when scoured, becoming 

 of a clear reddish tinge, and is a very inviting 

 worm to look at. As an angling bait it deserves 

 the first rank, being the most durable of all worms. 

 The only objections to it are the length of time 

 it takes to scour, and the difficulty of getting any 

 number of a proper size. 



