Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/84

BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES be insufficient to reveal all the mysteries of its life." The noted astronomer was right, and if those who are so fond of manufacturing species would take his dictum to heart, it would be all the better for Natural History, and would not deter the many from taking an interest because of the high falutin' of the privileged few. A Trout is a Trout, and whilst in our own rivers, ponds, lakes, lochs, streams, and brooks this favourite game-fish does exhibit great variety in colour, marking, and size, it is its life-history we wish to consider, and we can afford to leave the question above mentioned to those whose quest does not, by its very nature, take them to where the wind whispers beneath the pliant willows, and the Kingfisher—like a bolt from the blue—flashes past for one wonderful moment when Summer is aglow with life. There are Trout in our seas, there are Trout in our fresh waters. There are those which ascend fresh water, there are others which descend to salt. Some Trout are always found in fresh water, and whilst food, temperature, climate, light, and environment all have some, and at times very marked, effect upon these various water-dwellers, the lives they lead are very much the same, and the Trout known to us since boyhood is good enough for our study. Trout then are, above all, lovers of pure, fast-running streams. That they resort to lakes and other land-locked waters is true, and to all intents and purposes flourish there, if conditions are suitable and the food supply is plentiful. They inhabit deep as well as shallow water, for I have myself caught Salmo trutta 68