COMMON TROUT. 
229 
and is able to overcome. A rat or frog is not at this time 
an unwelcome prey. In summer, however, and when no better 
shelter is near, a casual hiding-place, at least to those of no 
large size, is beneath a stone in water that is not deep; and 
in this situation they are sometimes caught by a practise which 
Willoughby seems to intimate as only known in England. 
There is reason to suppose this fish feels even a pleasure when 
a tickling action is felt by the motion of fingers, as they are 
gently pressed along the under portions of its body; for it 
remains still until an opportunity is afforded of grasping it at 
the gills, and thus securing the capture. 
The roe is shed on the approach of the colder months; and 
for this purpose these fish proceed upward to the more retired 
and shallower brooks, and as near as may be to their source. 
It is covered with sand or gravel in miniature imitation of the 
actions of the Salmon; but the grains are developed in a 
shorter time than are those of that fish. In a course of obser- 
vations referred to in the "Zoologist” for 1855, it was observed 
that from the time of bursting the egg to the full development 
was fifteen days; but before this, and afterwards, they are 
exposed to devastation similar to that which when a little grown 
they inflict on others; and it has been remarked that the 
Minnow is one of the principal devourers; but the injury thus 
inflicted on the race is soon afterwards repayed with vengeance. 
The growth of the young Trout is speedy, but much of this 
depends on the sort of food that comes in their way; and we 
may judge that the bulk which they at last reach will greatly 
depend on what they obtain, of quality as well as quantity, 
at their outset in life; for sometimes there are districts in the 
same river where the fish are found of larger size than in 
any other part of it. In a set of trials made by Mr. Stoddart, 
examples were placed in three separate tanks, in one of which 
they were supplied with worms, in another with living Minnows, 
and in the third with those small dark-coloured water-flies which 
are to be found moving about on the surface under banks and 
sheltered places. The I routs fed with worms grew slowly, and 
had a lean appearance; those nourished on Minnows, which, 
it was observed, they darted at with great voracity, became 
much larger; while such as were fattened upon flies only, 
attained in a short time prodigious dimensions, weighing twice 
