ii To the Engstlen Alp once more 37 



and enjoys his change of diet. I have often found 

 old split nutshells in these lower grounds, which 

 were the results of his feasting, among others which 

 had been opened by squirrels these with a small 

 hole drilled at one end. A Nutcracker's nest, I need 

 hardly say, I have never yet found ; I cannot search 

 the pine- woods in March, and if I could, I might 

 well search in vain. It is only of recent years that 

 the nest has been discovered at all ; and the mystery 

 which used to enwrap it is prettily illustrated by an 

 old Swiss myth which told of a priceless jewel to be 

 found in it. This jewel would make the finder rich 

 and happy for life, but neither nest nor jewel had 

 been found in the Oberland when the story was 

 told me. 



Before we stray further from the alp, let us return 

 and see what other treasure it can produce for us. 

 One evening we had for dinner some strange-looking 

 fish from the lake, called by the natives Trlischen, 

 with very big heads and long eel-like tails. They 

 lie among stones by the edge of the lake, where you 

 have first to stir them up with a long pole, then 

 dangle a worm before them, and they will immediately 

 take it, most eagerly at nightfall. We were puzzled 

 by this fish, though very glad to eat him ; and my 

 friend Aplin, after triumphantly catching one, bottled 

 him in spirits and took him home to England. He 

 turned out, however, to be nothing wonderful the 



