194 ANGLING. 



tinued in its native stream, subjected to the fatten- 

 ing influence of a continuous flow of water, and 

 a consequent increase in the quantity and variety 

 of its food, its cubic dimensions would probably 

 have been 20 times greater ; yet it must have 

 attained, prior to the lapse of a couple of years, to 

 the usual period of the adult state. In regard to 

 birds and quadrupeds, the individuals of the same 

 species are seldom distinguishable from each other 

 by any peculiarities either of form or colour, at least 

 within the limits of a restricted locality; but it 

 appears to be otherwise with several species of fish, 

 more especially trouts. Those of the Clyde and 

 Tweed, although both rivers draw their primary 

 sources almost from the same mountain, present a 

 constant and well-marked difference in their ex- 

 ternal aspect; and a corresponding dissimilarity 

 exists among the characteristic varieties of almost 

 every river and lake in Scotland ; " which I tell 

 you," says Walton, " that you may the better be- 

 lieve that I am certain, if I catch a trout in one 

 meadow he shall be white and faint, and very like 

 to be lousy ; and as certainly, if I catch a trout in 

 the next meadow, he shall be strong, and red, and 

 lusty, and much better meat. Trust me, scholar, I 

 have caught many a trout in a particular meadow, 

 that the very shape and the enamelled colour of him 

 hath been such as hath joyed me to look on him ; 

 and I have then with much pleasure concluded with 

 Solomon, ' Every thing is beautiful in his season. 1 " 

 One main cause of dissimilarity in the external 

 character and aspect of different trouts, is un- 



