162 THE TROUT* 



the egg, the fry are entirely clear of it, and begin to 

 seek their food with avidity, preying upon very minute 

 insects and larvae, though there are some larvae which 

 are said to prey in turn upon them, while they are also 

 the prey of all larger fishes, even of those of their own 

 species. 



The trout, when in a healthy state, is always marked 

 with fine crimson spots, but the general colour varies 

 with the quality of the water in which it is found. If 

 that be good and clear, the trout is of a fine pale 

 brown on the back, passing into yellowish and silver 

 grey on the belly ; but when the water is blackened 

 with moss or otherwise habitually foul, the colour is 

 more dark and dusky. The colour of the flesh is 

 always white, and the scales never have any of that 

 pearly lustre which characterizes the sea-trout and 

 salmon. The river-trout is not understood to migrate 

 to the sea ; or if it does, its habits become changed, 

 and the stages of the change have not been observed. 

 There is a good deal of confusion about the history 

 and habits of fish, especially of some of those that are 

 found only at particular places, such as periodically in 

 the estuaries of rivers, and, indeed, with trout them- 

 selves, the produce of different rivers, even those that 

 are at no very great distance from each other, being 

 dissimilar in their appearance, though not so much so 

 in their habits. It is generally supposed that the larvae 

 and insects, and earth worms in a recent state, which 

 form the principal food of trout in clear and rapid 

 streams, are the causes of the greater brightness and 

 beauty of their colours, as well as of their superior 

 sweetness. It is said also that the Gillaroo trouts at 



