LOOSE STRANDS 189 



sions, enabled to observe the trout's behaviour towards 

 the lure. Once, in water deep but crystal-clear, I had 

 the pleasure of watching a fish which, as unfortunately 

 it happened, was not to be mine. His conduct was 

 quite unlike that of either of the trout observed by 

 Mr. Stuart. He came at the fly swiftly — if without a 

 rush — and, having failed to secure it, turned and dis- 

 appeared as swiftly in the direction of the great stone 

 from beneath which he had emerged. Having missed 

 the object of his desire, he seemed to lose all interest 

 in it. He did not range about in the hope of retrieving 

 his failure ; he withdrew at once, and remained with- 

 drawn. The fly was over him again while he was still 

 in sight, but he refused to bestir himself a second time. 

 The approach of the fish was not always distin- 

 guished by haste. On another occasion, fishing in 

 brown but translucent water, I saw the vague, shadowy 

 form of a trout float slowly from the depths and as 

 slowly near my fly. While he was yet some distance 

 from the surface he paused, and, changing his direction, 

 circled leisurely around beneath the lure. He did not 

 detect my presence, and there was no suggestion of 

 suspicion in his bearing. His'hesitation seemed rather 

 the result of languid interest. Possibly he had, like the 

 Athenians, a weakness for novelties, and it may have 



