THE LATE SALMO SALAR, ESQ. 51 



year, and water insects, and worms, and slugs, 

 and, in fact, whatever came uppermost. Though 

 thin and emaciated when they left the spawn- 

 ing beds, good cheer told upon them, and I 

 have rarely seen a handsomer specimen of our 

 race than a grand eighteen-pound kelt, with 

 whom I struck up a passing acquaintance as 

 we sheltered behind the same stone in the Brig 

 End Pool. He was, perhaps, a trifle longer in 

 proportion to his depth than a fresh-run fish ; 

 his back had a bluish tinge, and he was less 

 thick about the tail; but the scales beneath 

 were of silvery white ; he was altogether 

 well-proportioned and well-favoured; and his 

 strength was evidenced by the ease with which 

 he poised himself, like a bird in the air, even in 

 the rapid part of the stream. What fun it 

 must be, thought I, to be hungry ! as I saw 

 him dash playfully upwards at a gaudy- winged 

 butterfly which, after hovering a moment above 

 us, had dropped exhausted into the stream, 

 and was now, despite his struggles, manifestly 

 drowning. I had seen my friend the day 

 before, when the water was somewhat muddy, 

 absolutely gorge himself upon dead worms, and 

 other not over-delicate debris, that floated down 



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