138 ON ANGLING WITH THE WOEM. 



When pierced they emit a very offensive smell, but 

 anglers must not be too particular in this respect. 



THE MARSH WORM. When taken from the 

 earth this worm is of a pale-blue colour, with a 

 whitish knot a little above the centre. It is a very 

 small worm, and is more usually found too small 

 than too large. If kept sufficiently long it becomes 

 of a lively pink colour, and may be used with great 

 success, particularly in small waters. It is the most 

 plentiful of all descriptions of worms, and may be 

 found in any garden among heaps of decayed rubbish 

 and below stones. 



THE EED-HEADED WORM. This worm is only 

 to be found plentifully in the very richest soil, about 

 the edges of dunghills and similar places. It is of 

 a dark-red colour on the head and all down the back, 

 and of a pale-blue colour underneath. As a bait for 

 trout it does not deserve much attention. It is so 

 thick in proportion to its length, that if it is suffi- 

 ciently long to cover the hook, it makes too large a 

 bait, and after it has been a very short time in the 

 water it loses its colour, becoming quite dark, and 

 consequently not so attractive. 



With regard to the size of worm for fishing 

 where the trout are well fed and waiy when the 

 waters are clear, worms can hardly be used too 

 small if they cover the hook. A worm from two to 

 three inches long, and about the thickness of a hen's 

 quill, is the largest size that should be used. A 

 small bright clean worm is always most enticing to 



