216 THE EECLUSE. 



appear. Layinp^ myself down, cautiously and motionless, 

 on the grass, I soon, to my delight and wonder, observed 

 it was a mouse. I repeatedly marked it glide from the 

 bank under water, and bury itself in the mass of leaves 

 at the bottom ; I mean the leaves that had fallen off the 

 trees in autumn, and which lay very thick over the mud. 

 It very shortly returned, and entered the bank, occasion- 

 ally putting its long, sharp nose out of the water, and 

 paddling close to the edge. This it repeated at very 

 frequent intervals, from j^l'^^ce to place, seldom going 

 more than two yards from the side, and always returning 

 in about half a minute. I presume it sought and 

 obtained some insect or food among the rubbish and 

 leaves, and retired to consume it. Sometimes, it would 

 run a little on the surface, and sometimes, timidly and 

 hastily, come ashore, but with the greatest caution, and 

 instantly plunge in again. 



" During the whole sweet spring of that fine year I con- 

 stantly visited my new acquaintance. When under water 

 he looks gray, on account of the pearly cluster of minute 

 air-bubbles that adhere to his fur, and bespangle him all 

 over. His colour, however, is very dark brown." .... 



After entering into some descriptive details of the speci- 

 men, Mr Dovaston proceeds : — " This minute description I 

 am enabled to give, having caught it in an angler's landing- 

 net, and carefully ins23ected it in a white basin of water. 

 The poor creature was extremely uneasy under inspection, 

 and we soon, with great pleasure, restored it to liberty 

 and love, for he had a companion, which, from her paler 



