20 THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 



length being 13 to 15 inches. The charr is strictly a 

 northern fish, and flourishes much better in lakes fed 

 by underground springs at some elevation than in 

 shallow and low-lying waters. The lakes and lochs 

 chiefly noted for these fish in England, Ireland, and 

 Scotland, are Windermere, Ennerdale, Buttermere, 

 Wast- Water, in the north of England ; Lough En- 

 niskillin, Lough Eske, Lough Dan, Lough Melvin, 

 Loch Killin, and Corr in Ireland ; Lochs Grannoch, 

 Roy, and Awe in Scotland ; and Lake Helier in 

 Hoy, in the Orkneys. From their habit of seeking 

 the seclusion of the very deepest water during the 

 greater part of the year, they are seldom taken by 

 the sportsman, although bold risers at the fly. Occa- 

 sionally they are excessively shy, and are not to be 

 approached within a considerable distance when sur- 

 face feeding. The contents of their stomachs when 

 taken generally consist of aquatic and aerial insects, 

 and the small fish known as the stickleback, which 

 latter form their principal food. This fact failed to 

 attract our notice until the year 1862, when we were 

 fishing upon the Awe, in Argyleshire, at different 

 periods during a visit of four months. We had 

 observed a succession of bubbles appearing upon 

 the water's surface for an instant, and having never 

 succeeded in raising a fish in immediate proximity, 

 we concluded that they were caused by an escape of 

 gas or air from the bottom of the water. After a 

 while there came a day when the momentary bubbles 

 were exceptionally numerous, though they never oc- 

 curred near the boat. This circumstance did not 



