CHAPTER XVIII 



THE BROOK TROUT 



" Then, give me the trout of the mountain stream, 

 With his crimson stars and his golden gleam; 

 When he, like a hero, on the moss lies, 



h The Angler has won his fairest prize!" 



AUTHOR UNKNOWN. 



Trout Taking Flies. " Trout invariably strike the 

 insect first with their tails, knocking it into the water 

 and then devouring it with a swift dart which can 

 hardly be distinguished from the original movement, 

 so quickly does one succeed the other. " W. C. Prime. 



Trout Colors. The color of a trout's back depends 

 on the color of the bottom of the river. Rapidly 

 growing trout differ greatly in spots and color from 

 those which grow slowly and thrive badly. A mid- 

 dle-aged trout differs in color from an aged trout. 

 Speaking generally, the young, healthy, fast-growing 

 fish will have silvery sides, white belly, and plenty of 

 well-defined spots. The poorly fed fish will have few 

 or no spots, a drab belly, and muddy yellow sides. 

 Old trout are particularly lank and large-headed. 



Tame Trout. An English gentleman has two brook 

 trout that take flies from his fingers, and that ring a 



106 



