42 THE ELAN VALLEY AND 



The lake is a lovely sheet of water, picturesquely 

 situated above the Pump House Hotel. It lies at 

 the foot of a wood-clad hill, under which it stretches 

 away nearly as far as the Old Church. It has a 

 circumference of about a mile. The side adjoining 

 the common is the fashionable and favourite pro- 

 menade of those who drink the waters. There are 

 a dozen swans on the water, and it is interesting to 

 watch them on a bright summer evening, like 



" The swan on still St. Mary's Lake 

 Float double, swan and shadow," 



their portraits reversed in the water as clearly 

 photographed, and developed as sharply as their 

 individual shapes above it. There are also to be 

 seen on this lake a number of coots, moorhens, and 

 other water birds. The coots are comparatively 

 tame. 



It is curious to watch a pair of them floating 

 about with three newly-hatched young ones, the 

 old ones alternately turning somersaults into the 

 water, and the chicks keeping a keen look-out for 

 their reappearance ; sometimes the dive is a blank, 

 and sometimes the swiftest swimmer gets a choice 

 bit. The lake is abundantly stocked with perch, 

 and young Waltonians (born to be great anglers) 

 find abundant amusement, and sometimes make 

 wonderful catches angling from the shore or from 

 boats. 



Judging by the present list of visitors, three- 

 fourths of them appear to be Welsh, and it shows 



