40 BAUBLES ROUND FOLKESTONE. 



edge was a thick growth of plants, among which 

 were the Forget-me-nots, Mints, Watercress, Brook- 

 weed, Water Plantain, White Water Bedstraw, and, 

 under the trees opposite, the Enchanter's Nightshade. 

 Dragon Flies sported about in ferocious glee over the 

 water ; I watched one of the larger species (JEsJma) 

 a long time pursuing and snapping up insects in the 

 air. The muscular strength of these creatures (and 

 indeed of ah 1 insects) must be enormous, when we 

 consider the time they remain on the wing ; they arc 

 able to fly in any direction without turning and are 

 said to match the swallow in speed. Occasionally 

 a second of the same species dashed across, and, 

 whether it was play or deadly combat I cannot tell, 

 but there was an aerial chase, and now and again 

 they closed with such force that both fell into the 

 water together and struggled on the surface, then 

 they rose and the vanquished individual fled. 



Among the odd sounds which kept coming from 

 the reeds I heard a short sharp barking noise siich 

 as a young dog might make. For some time I tried 

 in vain to discover whence and from what it came, 

 but it ceased when I made a slight noise. I passed 

 out of sight round a bush, and presently heard it 

 afresh and on working cautiously round got full view 

 of a Moorhen swimming quickly and unconcernedly 

 across the open water. It paddled about with quick 

 short jerks of its white-edged pert-looking tail, con- 

 stantly uttering its peculiar cry, then it went into 

 the reeds again. Just as I was preparing to start a 

 second came in sight following the track of the 

 former, and differing from its partner only in being 

 more soberly coloured. For five or six minutes I 



