THE COMMON TROUT. 215 



and impervious wood, but mostly dry and inviting, 

 fringed in many parts with oak, ash, elm, and 

 beech, and in others hung over with the pleasant 

 alder, among the roots of which is often harboured 

 a goodly and well-grown trout, impatient for some 

 dropping fly or incautious worm. Most to our 

 favour, however, is its choice formation of bottom 

 or channel, fertile in food, provided with shelter, 

 and admirably fitted to the purpose of spawning. 

 A medley it is of gravel and sand, interspersed 

 with largeish stones, just capable of being removed 

 by the hand. Now and then, it is true, these latter 

 assume more considerable dimensions ; nay, occa- 

 sionally, a point of rock may be discovered, yet so 

 judiciously arranged as not at all to cause prejudice 

 to any one stream. Clay you seldom meet with, 

 it is a barren unprofitable substance, impervious to 

 every species of water animalculae ; we mean not 

 by it, the muddy refuse which is often found even 

 in Tweed, proceeding from vegetable decomposition, 

 and not in the least unfavourable to the support of 

 fish, but that hard yellowish till of which the 

 agriculturist complains, as drawing off no moisture, 

 and harbouring no nourishment. 



"Another leading feature of the Tweed is, that its 

 whole development is gradual, its extension almost 

 imperceptible. It proceeds not like the Tay or 

 Lochie from the womb of a large reservoir, supplied 

 but scantily during its course, but commences in 

 more modest and humble style, emergent from 

 slender and silvery fountains, without show or 

 vaunt, or any symbol of its progressive greatness. 



