Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/89

TROUT AND CHAR larger when several years old than the one shown in Fig. 36. Of these I have caught as many as 60 in one day in a sequestered glen in the glorious Island of Arran. Although so small these little fish afford quite good sport, being strong- willed and very tenacious. As a rule, Trout spawn in late Autumn. When that wondrous episode, the rise of the Mayfly, takes place, many a cool-bellied Trout has the feast of his life. The momentary airy creatures soon fall upon the surface of the water to the dance of death, and whilst being borne down-stream, wary old fish that have carried out a similar proceeding in years gone by, just wait and watch their opportunity. As long as the flight lasts the Trout have a right royal time, as also the Swallows which are also attracted to the feast. Whilst some Trout are silver, light-yellow, greenish, or even purple in ground colour, others are very dark, almost black. Others, probably old warriors who have seen their best days, take on a greyish, old-age look. The ornate spots which are found on various parts of the body, sometimes in profusion, at others only sparsely distributed, may be black, brown, or red. They also vary in shape and size. The dorsal fin is often spotted, as well as the body. The Trout has a fine array of small sharp teeth. Char. (Fig. 37).—As has been mentioned in the introductory notes to the third section of this volume, no less than 15 so-called species of Char are claimed as British fishes. Most of these occur in deep and cold mountain lakes in Great Britain and Ireland, and it is quite 71