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clear streams are light-coloured, almost pearly in shade ; and those 

 in the stream with the dark bottom are equally as dark as the 

 bottom of the stream they are in. We now take three or four 

 minnows from the clear stream, and transfer them to the dark 

 mossy stream. For a short time they seem uncomfortable, and 

 swim rapidly about. Owing to their light colour their movements 

 can be followed by the eye with ease. Very soon they become a 

 shade darker in colour than they were when placed in the dark 

 stream, and gradually assume, in a quarter of an hour or so, the 

 same colour as the original denizens of the stream. If we now 

 reverse the experiment, and remove the dark fish into the light, 

 clear-coloured stream, we see that they for a short time dart swiftly 

 about as before. The change comes quickly, however, and in a 

 short time they become as clear and pearly in colour as those that 

 they were placed amongst, and assimilate as nearly as possible to 

 the colour of the clear pebbly bottom of the stream. 



As we have still a good part of the day's work before us, let 

 us return to the inn and take a boat across the lake to the Side 

 wood, and as we shall not require the boatman for four or five hours, 

 we may ask him to meet us at Smiddy Beck on our return. On 

 landing, the lover of wild flowers will be gladdened by seeing an 

 adundance of a rare plant growing freely along the edge of the lake. 

 This will be recognized as Thalictrum flavum, meadow rue, an 

 elegant species belonging to the same natural order as the butter- 

 cup. The rough rocky ground higher up supplies two uncommon 

 species of ferns, known as the oak and beech ferns, both of which 

 attain a good size, owing to the soil and situation being favourable 

 to their growth. As we wander along through masses of ling and 

 heather, we find everywhere the honey bee busy at work. A 

 stranger might ask where do all the bees come from? Those 

 acquainted with the district can soon answer the question. For 

 the past fortnight or three weeks, the beekeepers from the lowlands 

 have been busy bringing up their hives to the fells, for the bees to 

 lay in a stock of the finest honey, which is obtained from the ling. 

 The hives are scattered over the fells, on both sides of the lake, 

 where the heather abounds, and being securely built in amongst 



