HERON AND WATER RAT. 31 



of greater weight than one pound. His structure 

 adapts him for wading to a certain depth into the 

 shallow waters on the borders of lakes, ponds, and 

 ditches, while his spider-like patience in watching 

 for his prey, and his cat-like activity in secur- 

 ing it, enable him to thin the shoals of gudgeons, 

 eels, roach, and minnows, that pass along the mar- 

 gins, and occasionally venture within his reach : 

 but the deep waters beyond are an unknown 

 region to him; there the carp and tench may 

 swim in security, as far as he is concerned, and 

 the trout and perch pursue the fly, or spring into 

 the air, within a tantalizing distance of his hungry 

 beak: so long as they do not venture within 

 the range of that unerring weapon they are safe. 

 But how will it fare with that water rat, which, re- 

 turning to its subterranean habitation from a visit 

 to yonder meadow, is now about to cross the 

 brook, 



" ripse ulterioris amore ? " 



How fearlessly it commits itself to the stream ! 

 So unconscious is the little animal of danger that 

 it does not attempt to dive or alter its course, but 

 with snout projecting from the surface, and tail 

 extended, it swims steadily across to where the 

 motionless bird awaits its arrival. The slightest 



