From Fox's Earth 



the delicate bouquet, nor wish it to pass in reple- 

 tion, leave the moor for the forest. The knocking 

 over of grouse day after day does not appeal to 

 them. They seek nobler game, go a step up the 

 ladder. 



If not a very reliable month, August fishing is 

 very charming, and that is a good deal. From 

 the hill burn, fringed with yellow and white saxi- 

 frages, and rushing, to the twitter of mountain 

 linnets, through the glen stream flowing down 

 between heather-flushed slopes, to the lowland 

 water in its statelier course by green haughs and 

 overhanging woods all are equally delightful. 

 The change of environment makes no change in 

 the charm. 



After all, the fishing depends much upon the 

 season, so that there may be both environment 

 and sport. This summer was dry, still, and 

 bright. The water shrank till it dipped to the 

 mud of slow-flowing streams, and made channels 

 in the gravelly beds. Spring and summer were 

 alike barren. With August the rain fell ; not 

 drenching, but just enough to flush ; not con- 

 tinuous, but with long, bright intervals. After 

 the rain came wind, not blustering, but strong 

 enough to chase the flushed pools into ripples, 

 and so add the last touch to perfect fishing condi- 

 tions. The big trout rose in that determined 

 way of theirs when feeding, sucking down the fly 

 while scarce breaking the surface into rings. 



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