280 AUGUST. 



so cool a shade as the willow ; and thus agree- 

 ably hidden, you may often catch glimpses of 

 the habits of the shyer and smaller animals ; 

 traits which perhaps have yet escaped the 

 naturalist, and which may tend to eradicate 

 those ignorant prejudices so cruel and oppres- 

 sive to many of the innocent commoners of 

 nature. The water-rat is considered a common 

 thief, and is killed wherever he is found. If 

 you watch him in his secluded streams, you will 

 quickly discern that his food is almost entirely 

 the herbage which grows in them, and espe- 

 cially the leaf of the arrow-head. I have seen 

 him repeatedly sally forth from his retreat, crop 

 a leaf of arrow-head and bear it away in his 

 mouth by the stem, as the dove is drawn re- 

 turning to the ark with the olive branch. Who 

 would not find a greater gratification in watch- 

 ing the happy and undestructive habits of a 

 timid little creature than in shooting it, or 

 worrying it with dogs ? I do not mean to say 

 that these, or any other wild animals, should be 

 suffered to increase till they become nuisances, 

 but in moderate numbers I would let them 

 enjoy God's good gifts of life and sunshine; 

 and if they must be the victims of our rights, 



