332 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



twice immersed, wings and all, before it disentangled itself 

 from the sharp teeth of the Trout *. 



It is by no means an unexampled occurrence for this 

 fish to take a Swallow in grim earnest. One instance at 

 least of such a circumstance is on record. The bird, in 

 this case, however, was not flying, but floating before the 

 wind on the surface of the water, into which it had been 

 shot, when a Trout made a rush at it and carried it out of 

 sight. The fact was witnessed by two persons ; and as 

 there were no Pike in the river, there could be no doubt 

 as to the species of the fish by which the Swallow was 

 taken. 



Insects of all kinds appear in greater numbers and are 

 observed to exhibit increased activity towards sunset ; and 

 this is consequently the best time in the day for taking 

 Trout with the artificial fly, and especially the heavy fish, 

 which until then lie concealed amongst roots, under deep 

 holes, and in other similar shelters. The next best time is 

 during the first freshness of the morning, before the sun 

 gets much power. The Fly-fisher, in fact, cannot be too 

 early or too late at the water ; and I have often killed the 

 best fish of the day when it was so dark that I could hardly 

 see my rod and had entirely lost sight of my flies. At 

 both these times larger- sized flies may be used than at 

 others. Small flies are preferable on hot, windless days, 

 or when the water is bright and low. When water is 

 much discoloured with rain so as to become opaque, fly- 

 * Scrope's Tweed. 



