174 REMARKS ON WORMS 



often abundant in dampish stackyards, and in old 

 rubbish heaps, and if in a breeding state, has a 

 white knot some distance from its head. If not 

 amorously inclined, the white knot is represented 

 by only a whiteish ring. These worms when scoured 

 are beautifully pink, and they are seldom too large 

 for the angler. 



Brandling worms require much longer keeping 

 than other worms in order to toughen sufficiently, 

 to allow of easy baiting ; and for clear water 

 angling in small rivers, our experience leads us to 

 consider them next to the marsh worm as a bait. 

 Anglers who keep a stock of worms should note 

 too, that brandlings are much more easily kept 

 alive than any other kind of worms. Even should 

 the moss in which they may be placed for toughen- 

 ing become mildewed or partly rotten, a slight 

 sprinkling of water over the moss will keep them 

 quite lively. Remembering where they are bred, 

 this is not to be wondered at. 



It has often been wondered at how trout and 

 other fishes have such a greedy appetite for worms, 

 land animals; and none of oiir naturalists try to 

 account for it. Knapp, in his delightful and often 

 quoted Journal of a Naturalist, even writes as 



