328 THE SALMON TEOUT. 



artificial, the latter being certainly the neatest and most artistic method. The arcana of 

 angling are not within the province of this work ; and for information on that subject, the 

 reader is referred to the many valuable works which have been written by accomplished 

 masters of the art. 



There is a curious method of catching Trout, much in vogue among the juvenile fishers. 

 This process is called " tickling," and is managed as follows : The tickler gets quietly into 

 the stream, and walks slowly along the banks, feeling carefully for any depression or 

 cavity. One hand is then introduced very gently, while the other is placed over the 

 entrance of the hole, the fingers being spread so as to prevent the exit of any fish that 

 may happen to be resident in that locality. Several such cavities may be tried without 

 success, but at last the smooth side of a fish is felt by the finger-tips. 



TROUT. Soimo /orio. 



The startled fish gives a great flounce on being touched, and tries to dash out of the 

 hole, but, being checked by the spread hand, retires to the recesses of its cavern. The 

 finger-tips are then gently brought against the abdomen of the fish, which soon endures 

 the contact, and permits the hand gradually to inclose it. As soon as that is the case, the 

 fish is suddenly grasped, snatched out of the hole, and flung ashore before it can find time 

 to struggle from the captor's hold. Some accomplished ticklers aver themselves to be 

 capable of thrusting the fore-finger into the gill and out at the mouth, and hooking out the 

 fish in this singular manner. 



The colour of the Trout is yellowish brown above, speckled with dark reddish brown, 

 and a number of carmine spots are scattered along each side of the lateral line. The 

 abdomen is silvery white, and the lower part of the sides rich golden yellow. There is, 

 however, considerable variation in the colour of the Trout, the locality having considerable 

 influence upon the tints. 



One or two other species of this genus are found in British waters, and require a 

 passing notice. 



The BULL, or GREY TKOUT (Salmo eriox) is found in several of our rivers, and in the 

 Tweed is tolerably common. It often attains a very large size, but a specimen weighing 

 more than fifteen pounds is not very common. 



The SALMON TEOUT (Salmo trutta), is another British species, and in general habits 

 is very like the salmon, migrating to the sea, and returning to the rivers in a 

 similar fashion. 



