58 Looking in a peculiar tone of voice. Chapt. v. 



doubt in his mind, and he shows no sign, they can read 

 that too, and in they go at the bait, as they are probably 

 hungrier and less wary than he is. And that is how it 

 is that a good fisherman generally kills finer fish in the 

 long run than an indifferent fisherman, even though both 

 fish with precisely the same bait. The finest fish are 

 the most wary, and in a position to be the most fasti- 

 dious. The deception that satisfies them must conse- 

 quently be the most perfect; but if it be quite satisfac- 

 tory, then they are thoroughly competent to look out for 

 themselves, and well able to prevent the smaller fry from 

 rudely rushing in and carrying off their intended dinner. 

 There is a very decided, dignified, awe-striking, keep- 

 your-distance expression in the countenance and general 

 bearing of a large fish about to feed, and in a hand- 

 somely attired trout, an unmistakable u odi-profanum- 

 vulgus" look, quite enough to make any small fry shrink 

 into their shoes. Though I have not yet arrived at the 

 point of recognizing the varying lines in the face of a 

 large Mahseer, there is no doubt in my mind but that 

 the small fish are thoroughly conversant with them, for 

 I see a knowledge of a certain something there so clearly 

 reflected in their behaviour, that I cannot "question it, 

 and myself am often able to gather something from his 

 general demeanour, his lordly lineaments, even before he 

 leaves his station for the bait. His daily satellites the 

 small fish must however have much more closely studied 

 his physiognomy, and, if they had read Goldsmith, would 

 probably be tempted to quote the following lines from 



