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. 



