\ from time to time. In a larger pond 
Pond Life 
heads up and down as though it were 
rather hard work, as perhaps it is for 
them. They have not webbed feet like 
the swimming-foot of the ducks, and 
their long, slender toes are more fitted 
for creeping through the bulrushes and 
' sedges, and running about on the floating 
leaves and water vegetation, than for 
swimming. 
Of course a big pond surrounded with 
a belt of reeds and bulrushes, and 
perhaps some trees, is better stocked 
with birds and fish than the small field 
pond which simply serves as a drinking- 
place for horses and cattle, besides being 
far more pleasing to see; but even in 
quite small ponds I have seen all sorts 
of out-of-the-way things, like herons, 
wild ducks, sandpipers, and kingfishers, 
