44 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



I have just unhooked the last, and am preparing 

 to cast again, when a water-vole leaves the near 

 bank, and begins to swim across the pool. This 

 is the otter of the burn, but only in appearance ; 

 although the miniature is sufficiently deceptive. 

 The otter would be out of proportion ; but this 

 little black creature, so perfectly at home, seems as 

 if modelled for his smaller domain. He is maligned, 

 but that is all prejudice. He swims among 

 the rising trout, and they do not seem to mind. 

 He dives, when he sees me ; but not to follow r the 

 retreating fish, only to escape. I can see him under 

 the water, until he reaches the opposite bank, and 

 disappears below the trailing grasses. 



He is not the black rat some people take him 

 for: which creature is nearly extinct. He has 

 the blunt nose of the vole, and is really as innocent 

 as a guinea-pig. He is not assertive ; he is retir- 

 ing ; competition would be the death of him. He 

 has simply found a place of his own, which no 

 other creature cares to dispute, and a very desir- 

 able kingdom it is. He thins out perceptibly by 

 the mill there. The reason is obvious. 



The brown, or Norway rat is in possession, and 

 will admit no rival. He does not go up and down 

 the stream, or scatter over its quiet stretches. 



