196 THE MOOR -BURN. 



in such situations, the burn-trout seldom exceeds a quarter 

 of a pound, and may be pulled out with single gut, without 

 much risk of breaking it. In these lyns, however, I have 

 occasionally taken them upwards of a pound, which is 

 easily accounted for. As soon as the trout grows to a 

 sufficient size to intimidate his pigmy neighbours, he falls 

 back into the best pool for feeding, not occupied by a 

 greater giant than himself, and as these lyns are almost 

 always in precipices very difficult of access, he remains 

 undisturbed and alone, or with a single companion, driving 

 all others away, until he may at last attain to a pound 

 weight. 



I have seen two curious instances of the rapid growth 

 of the burn-trout under such circumstances, from the size 

 of a par to fully half a pound. They were deposited in 

 separate spring-wells, about three feet deep and five 

 round. The trout in neither had any means of escape, 

 and became so tame as to seize worms, minnows, &c. 

 when dropped from the hand. One of them was within 

 a hundred yards of Arden Connel house in Dumbarton- 

 shire, where I then lived. It had been in the spring 

 about four years, and although large-headed and lean- 

 looking, as all overgrown burn-trout are, seemed in good 

 health and spirits. It always came to the top of the water 

 for the remains of my minnows, when I returned from 

 trolling ; and on one occasion I emptied a pailful of live 

 ones into the spring, which not only gave it several hearty 

 meals, but exercise and amusement to boot. It pursued 

 and seized them with a rapidity the eye could scarcely 



