TAG-TAIL, MARL, AND MARSH WORMS. 167 



The Tag or Gill Tail is of a pale flesh colour, all but 

 about half an inch of the end of the tail, which is of a 

 golden yellow. This worm is both paler and larger than 

 the last mentioned, and is knotted in the middle. It is 

 found most commonly on marled land, or on meadows 

 after a shower in the morning. This is said to be an ex- 

 cellent bait for trout in waters discoloured by rain, but 

 it will not endure much scouring. 



The Marl or While Worm is found chiefly in marl 

 or clayey soil. The body is of a very pale pink colour, 

 and knotted with a band of the same colour as the head, 

 which is of a pinkish white. It is a tough good bait, 

 and shows well in the water. 



The Marsh Worm is of a middle size and knotted, 

 of a bluish cast, and so tender that it requires long scour- 

 ing before use, but is then a lively good bait. They 

 may be found sticking about the roots of flags, docks, 

 and other aquatic plants, in marshy ground by the side 

 of rivers, etc. They may be induced to rise to the sur- 

 face by treading the ground well backwards and forwards 

 with the feet close together. 



By attention to the proper method of scouring and 

 preparing worms, they are rendered much tougher, longer- 

 lived upon the hook, and more clear and transparent in 

 their skins, and present altogether a much more tempt- 

 ing appearance than when newly obtained from the 

 earth. 



To scour worms for immediate use, carefully select 

 such as are of a proper size, rejecting all that are 

 damaged or diseased, and then wash them for a few 



