ARROW FISHING. 67 



The shaft is then gone after, picked up, and thrust into 

 the spear: the cord is hlmIu adjusted, and tlie canoe 

 moves towards the merry makers of tliose swift ascend- 

 ing bubbles, so brightly displaying themselves on the 

 edge of that deep shade, cast by yonder evergreen oak. 



There is much in the associations of arrow-fishing 

 that gratifies taste, and makes it partake of a refined 

 and intellectual character. Beside the knowledge it 

 gives of the character of fishes, it practises one in the 

 curious refractions of water. Thus will the arrow-fish- 

 erman, from long experience, drive his pointed shaft a 

 fathom deep for game, when it would seem, to the nov- 

 ice, that a few inches would be more than sufficient. 



Again, the waters that supply the arrow-fisherman 

 with game, afi'ord subsistence to innumerable birds, and 

 he has exhibited before him, the most beautiful displays 

 of their devices to catch the finny tribe. 



Tiie kingfisher may be seen the livelong day, acting 

 a prominent part, bolstering up its fantastic topknot, as 

 if to apologize for a manifest want of neck ; you can 

 hear him always scolding and clamorous among the low 

 brush, and overhanging limits of trees, eyeing the min- 

 nows as they glance along the shore, and making vain 

 essays to fasten them in his bill. 



The hawk, too, often swoops down from the clouds, 

 swift as the bolt of Jove ; the cleft air whistles in the 

 flight : the sportive fish, playing in the sunlight, is 

 snatched up in the rude talons, and borne aloft, the 



