THE MONARCH OF THE POOL. 185 



cate flying object this, less than an inch in ex- 

 panse, with center of each hind wing a dark 

 orange yellow, the margins and fore wings a 

 blackish brown. Here and there and yon it flits, 

 an active midget, full of the energy and joyful- 

 ness of its mid-summer existence. 



Suntish are scarce in the upper portions of 

 this woodland stream. But few of the pools are 

 wide and deep enough to suit their liking. In 

 their place minnows and chubs 8 abound. I 

 pitch a half grown grasshopper into the pool 

 before which I sit. The second it strikes the 

 water there is a dart and a click of jaws. Four 

 times in rapid succession the click continues. 

 The fourth time the struggling insect is borne 

 far down and forever disappears. Each time of 

 failure the fish, a large horned dace, turned as 

 it made the snap at the struggling insect and 

 darted downward, not caring to risk appearance 

 at the surface for more than a fraction of a 

 second, so wary was it of danger from king- 

 fisher or other enemy. Each time it returned 

 and darted upward at its prey. Its aim was 



