THE WATER FAIRY 



37 



darted or glided about, and certain sunny spots in the 

 pool were distinctly pearly lustred by their numbers. 

 It was like a strangely fashioned palpitating opal dis- 

 solving before one's eyes, and the incessant waving ac- 

 companiment of the gliding feathery scarlet fringe by 

 which the swimmer propelled itself was beautiful be- 

 yond description. I brought home several specimens 

 in a bottle for my aquarium, but they were too fragile 

 for such treatment, and all perished in a few moments. 



I made a little sketch in my note-book from memory, 

 simply to aid me in identifying my fairy. It is only a 

 hint, but with my descriptive memoranda made at the 

 time I had little difficulty in naming my specimen. It 

 is the Fairy Shrimp (Branchippus vernalis), under which 

 title my reader may find out all about the beautiful 

 creature. Those who live in the country should not 

 miss a fairy- hunt during the coming week. The Bran- 

 chippus is a gem indeed for any aquarium. 



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