5l6 AUDUBON 



ful movements. The sun is shining, and under the lee of 

 every stone, and sunk log, some of the little creatures are 

 rising to the surface to enjoy the bright blaze, which en- 

 hances all their beauty. The golden hues of some parts of 

 the body, blend with the green of the emerald, while the 

 coral tints of the lower parts and the red of its sparkling 

 eye, render our little favorite a perfect gem of the waters. 



The rushing stream boils and gurgles as it forces its 

 way over the obstacles presented by its bed, the craggy 

 jDoints, large stones and logs that are strewn along the 

 bottom. Every one of these proves a place of rest, safety, 

 and observation to the little things, whose eyes are ever 

 anxiously watching their favorite prey as it passes. There 

 an unfortunate moth, swept along by the current, labors in 

 vain to extricate itself from the treacherous element; its 

 body, indeed, at intervals, rises a little above the surface, 

 but its broad wings, now wet and heavy, bear it down 

 again to the water. The Sunfish has marked it, and as 

 it passes his retreat, he darts towards it, with twenty of 

 his fellows, all eager to seize the prize. The swiftest 

 swallows it in a moment, and all immediately return to 

 their lurking-places, where they fancy themselves secure. 

 But, alas! the Sunfish is no more without enemies than 

 the moth, or any other living creature. So has nature 

 determined, evidently, to promote prudence and industry, 

 without which none can reap the full advantage of life. 



On the top of yon miller's dam stands boldly erect the 

 ardent fisher. Up to the knees and regardless of the dan- 

 ger of his situation, he prepares his apparatus of destruc- 

 tion. A keen hook attached to his grass line is now hid 

 within the body of a worm or grasshopper. With a know- 

 ing eye he marks one after another every surge of the 

 water below. Observing the top of a rock scarcely cov- 

 ered, he sends his hook towards it with gentleness and 

 certainty; the bait now floats and anon sinks; his reel 

 slowly lengthens the line, which is suddenly tightened, 



