400 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



had excited my attention. Should the weather still continue 

 warm, every day adds to the number of heads, and the spawn 

 rapidly accumulates in a shallow corner of the well. The 

 croaking is now so loud as to be heard at some distance, not 

 merely from the increase of voices, but that each note acquires 

 double force, the more warm and genial the day. When the 

 cold returns, as in our springs it is so apt to do, many of the 

 frogs seek their winter covering, and the croak of those that 

 remain dwindles into a faint treble, instead of their full 

 diapason. A touch of frost will cause all the frogs to dis- 

 appear, and make the top of the spawn as white as an oyster. 

 But the first warm sun and mild air bring them to the surface 

 again, and restore the spawn to its original colour. It is then 

 most curious to observe their gambols, jumping and tumbling 

 about like boys at leap-frog and no doubt the origin of this 

 favourite game of the playground. After a time the frogs all 

 leave the pool, and small black eggs are formed in the spawn, 

 which gradually increase in size until little tadpoles emerge. 



But now a more interesting visitor may sometimes be seen 

 The first burst of spring has brought into life the earlier in- 

 sects, and with them the subtle, active trout. In this little 

 pond I have counted three ; two of them very small, the other 

 about six inches long. My attention was first directed to 

 them one fine July evening, when I saw what appeared to be 

 fish rising. I crept forward, and soon perceived the larger 

 trout amidst a crowd of summer insects, some buzzing about 

 the surface, and others settling upon it. He was sucking 

 them down lazily and at intervals, like a finished gourmand at 

 a satisfactory dinner. But here the resemblance ends ; for, 

 upon my stepping forward, he darted to the other side of the 

 tank, with a celerity very unlike the respected gentleman 

 aforesaid when leaving his ample board. In my evening 

 walks I seldom omitted to take a peep at the little pond, and 

 soon discovered that my spotted friend was not solitary ; and one 

 or other of them was almost always to be seen during the season. 



