Pond Life 
another bird, and it is doing the same ; 
they are all catching mayflies as fast as 
tie, cam while the ‘rise’ is on, for it 
may stop at any minute, and the birds 
seem determined to make hay while the 
sun shines! They even pick them off 
the water while floating. Others are 
suddenly sucked down quietly from 
below ; the trout are on the watch for 
them. Taking up its position between 
two weed-beds, or wherever the set of 
the current will bring them, a trout will 
lie, and while the rise is on will suck 
down every floating mayfly which passes 
over it, the small fish with a jump and 
sudden splash, but the big fish quietly, 
and barely breaking the calm surface of 
the water. They also eat them under 
water, catching them as they rise to 
the top. The wagtails and sparrows, 
141 
