Chapt. ix. Murrel running to earth. 125 



very tolerant of cold also; and like a pike roams about 

 at times for his food, instead of waiting stationarily be- 

 hind a rock, for it to be brought down to him by the stream. 

 This is the natural consequence of his living chiefly in 

 ponds, and in the still pools in rivers, where there is 

 little or no stream to bring things past a stationary ob- 

 ject; and the consequence also of his food not being such 

 as would naturally be washed down a stream. At times 

 he lies hidden like a pike, and perfectly motionless behind 

 weeds, under a bank, amongst roots, or in a hole, with 

 just his nose out, watching for unwary little fish to swim 

 by. It is said that they frequently have large holes in 

 the bank in which they live in pairs coiled up. This habit 

 of taking to earth is sometimes very inconvenient to the 

 angler, for if he is not very prompt and very vigorous in 

 keeping them away > from the bank when hooked, they 

 will have the line round a corner, and you may then say 

 good bye to all chances of recovering it, or your fish; you 

 will have to break it. I have had a murrel run into a 

 hole in a rock in this way, and I lost my fish, and my 

 tackle, and my sweet temper, all at a stroke. Of the last 

 two commodities however I had more in stock, and soon 

 indented thereon. 



The murrel feeds much as the pike does, and may be 

 fished for in the same way, and with the same tackle. 

 But whether they require clear water, as the Mahseer does, 

 and the necessary concomitant of fine tackle, or can equal- 

 ly be taken when the water is colored, I am not prepared 

 to state, though I am told coloured water suits them best ; 



