ON RAPID STREAMS. 49 



possible exertion, they may obtain sufficiency of 

 food; in such places they may be caught in 

 January, and the early part of February, lying 

 in almost still water, by the sides of the stickles, 

 at the tails of pools, under overhanging banks, 

 &c. ; but not in the bubbling, gushing torrent, 

 or so near it as that they would be obliged to 

 swim against it in their pursuit of prey ; and here 

 too, at such times, they prefer to feed on ground 

 baits rather than sport with the lively fly. 



Spring however, returning with her genial 

 warmth, conduces to the health of the trout, who 

 with increasing strength and bodily power will 

 soon attempt more rapid waters, at first seeking 

 the tails of long pools, where they may with tole- 

 rable exertion catch the flies now becoming gra- 

 dually more numerous, and on whom they desire 

 the more to feed, and may moreover rub them- 

 selves in the sand to free themselves from the 

 slime which is always found adherent to the scales 

 of sickly fish, and rid themselves too of insects, 

 often numerous and sources of great trouble to 

 the emaciated trout; thus improving the condition 

 of their integuments, they stimulate their body to 

 vigour of growth, and feeding more abundantly,, 

 they soon become strong and healthy, fat and fair, 

 their scales bright and lustrous, and their beauti- 

 ful spots conspicuously ornamental to their sides ; 

 and having rubbed their coats and freed them- 

 selves of slime, new scales develop themselves, their 

 bodies acquire plumpness, their muscles power, and 

 their systems vigour, old desires and habits return, 



E 



