THE COMMON TROUT. 207 



rapid ; he will run continuously along a lengthened 

 smooth expanse, and make a mighty flourish with 

 his tail at the end of it ; he will seek to hide him- 

 self (and break the line even of the imperial guard) 

 among the tangled roots of old fantastic trees, or 

 will sneak beneath gloomy overhanging banks, like 

 a " demm'd demp disagreeable body" ashamed of 

 being seen. It may easily be conceived that with 

 this pertinacity and determination of character, the 

 capture of a large river-trout is by no means easy, 

 and it often happens, that in spite of all the angler's 

 art, the said trout is seen waddling away with his 

 tongue in one cheek and the fly in the other, while 

 the line, like a " knotless thread," comes sneaking 

 back towards its master, who takes off his hat, not 

 so much to salute the departing fish, as to make 

 room for the sudden elongation of his own ears, 

 which are sure to assert their prerogative on such 

 occasions. But let him replace his beaver and not 

 despond, nor utter a single hasty or discordant word 



(whether it begin with <z, &, c, or d , the last 



the worst of all), rather remembering the advice 

 of old Markham, already quoted, " with pleased 

 sufferance to amend errors, and think mischances 

 instructions to better carefulness." 



The form of a fine trout, when in high condition, 

 is extremely elegant, the head, however, being 

 sometimes slightly large in proportion to the rest 

 of the body, when viewed in relation to what we 

 ourselves regard as the beau ideal of a perfect fish. 

 In this respect, perhaps, the new run salmon, 

 majestically clothed in purple and silver sheen, is 



