MORE FISHING NOTES. 355 



minutely, taking whole days over it. What I have 

 found would give my readers matter for wonder. 

 The vast food -supply contained there was some- 

 thing marvellous. The pike, for instance, must have 

 weeds both for shelter and for food-stores ; he will 

 not flourish without them. Reeds, weeds, and pike 

 are inseparable in my mind. As I have Jain in 

 that brook luxuriating in the moist warmth, after the 

 sun had been shining brightly in midsummer, I have 

 felt the gudgeons, loaches, and the miller's thumbs 

 scuttle over my body — nay, even resting on me as 

 I lay. That brook was alive with pike, perch, trout, 

 roach, gudgeon, loach, and miller's thumbs. 



By the way, even the viper is a most expert 

 swimmer. I have seen him by the brook-side : a 

 dreaded foe to the mouse family he is. That rep- 

 tile is far more feared than he deserves to be. In 

 our brook there was room for all — boys, birds, fish, 

 and reptiles. 



One day we were told we could not go there 

 any more. What! not bathe and fish in our be- 

 loved brook } We could not credit our ears, and 

 we hooted our informant as only boys can hoot. 

 Then we went there again at once,, in defiance. 



