THE COMMON TROUT. 277 



that one and the same fish may go through all these 

 changes of appearance in succession, according to the 

 water it inhabits at the time. He says, "when fishing 

 in the height of the season for trout in the Tweed, it has 

 often happened, that out of two or three dozen I have 

 caught, there should be five or six, dififering not only 

 from the common trout, but from each other. These 

 trout come down into the Tweed during winter and 

 spring floods from its different feeders, viz., the Ettrick, 

 Yarrow, Jedj Trale, Eden, Leet, &c., all differing com- 

 pletely from each other. These trout retain enough of 

 their original appearance to distinguish them from Tweed 

 trout, but after a few months' stay they gradually lose 

 their original marks, and excellence of flavour, and 

 become like the common Tweed trout in every respect. 

 There can be no doubt that the nature of the soil through 

 which the different streams flow is the cause of the dif- 

 ference of appeara,nce, not only as to colour and size, but 

 also particularly in the superior excellence of their flesh 

 to that of the Tweed trout. I have also ascertained that 

 the Tweed trout after having been a month or two in the 

 Leet change their colour and assume the appearance of 

 those of the Leet; while again, not only the Leet trout, 

 but those of the other small burns, soon lose their beauty 

 and other good qualities after they have been any time in 

 the Tweed. I may mention that the food in the two little 



