pose in June, and continuing to do so all the summer; and this river is fed by streams from snow and glaciers in the Tyrol, and is generally foul: whilst the small spotted common trouts, which are likewise found in this lake, go into the small brooks which have their sources not far off, and in which they were probably originally bred. And I have seen taken in the same net small fish of both these varieties, which were as marked as possible in their characters:one silvery, like a young salmon, blue on the back and with small black spots only; the other, with yellow belly and red spots, and an olive-coloured back. I have made similar observations in other lakes, particularly in that of the Traun near Gmünden, and likewise at Loch Neah in Ireland. Indeed, considering the sea trout as the type of the species trout, it is, I think, probable that all the other true trouts may be considered as varieties, where the differences of food and of habits have occasioned, in a long course of ages, differences of shape and colours, transmitted to offspring in the same

manner as in the variety of dogs, which may all be referred to one primitive type.*

* I have known the number of spines in the pectoral fins different, in different varieties of trout; I have seen them 12, 13, and 14: but the anal fin always (I believe) contains 10 or 11 spines. The smallest brook trout, when well and copiously fed, will increase in stews to four or five pounds in weight, but never attains the size or characters of lake trout.

Mr. Tomkin of Polgaron put some small river trout, 2 inches in length, into a newly made pond. He took some of them out the second year, above 12 inches in length; the third year, he took one out of 16 inches in length; and the fourth year, one of 25 inches in length: this was in 1734. (Carew's Survey of Cornwall, p. 87.)

(73)

THIRD DAY.

HALIEUS-POIETES-ORNITher-
PHYSICUS.

SCENE-DENHAM.

Morning.

HAL.-YOU will soon take your leave, genmen, of this agreeable villa, but we must catch at least two brace of trout, to carry with us to London as a present for two worthy patrons of the angle. The May fly is already upon the water, though not in great quantity, and it will consequently be more easy to catch the fish, which I see are rising with great activity. I advise you to go to the deep water below, where you will find large fish, and I will soon follow you.

POIET.-I hope I shall catch a large fish, -a companion to that which you took yesterday with a natural fly.

[Halieus leaves them fishing, and returns to the House; but soon comes back and joins his companions, whom he finds fishing below in the river.]

HAL.-Well, gentlemen, what sport? POIET.-The fish are rising every where; but though we have been throwing over them with all our skill for a quarter of an hour, yet not a fish will take, and I am afraid we shall return to breakfast without our prey.

HAL. I will try; but I shall go to the other side, where I see a very large fish rising. There!-I have him at the very first throw. Land this fish, and put him into the well. Now I have another fish; and I have no doubt I could take half a dozen in this very place, where you have been so long fishing without success,

PHYS.-You must have a different fly; or have you some unguent or charm to tempt the fish?

HAL.-No such thing. If any of you. will give me your rod and fly, I will an

I

swer for it I shall have the same success. take your rod, Physicus. And lo! I have a fish!

PHYS.-What can be the reason of this? It is perfectly inexplicable to me. Yet Poietes seems to throw as light as you do, and as well as he did yesterday.

HAL. I am surprised that you, who are a philosopher, cannot discover the reason of this. Think a little.

ALL. We cannot.

HAL. As you are my scholars, I believe I must teach you. The sun is bright, and you have been, naturally enough, fishing with your backs to the sun, which, not being very high, has thrown the shadows of your rods and yourselves upon the water, and you have alarmed the fish whenever you have thrown a fly. You see I have fished with my face towards the sun, and though inconvenienced by the light, have not alarmed the fish. Follow my example, and you will soon have sport, as there is a breeze playing on the water.

PHYS.-Your sagacity puts me in mind