300 



SHARP EYES 



fish are almost their only stock in trade at this season, 

 with perhaps a fine show of green moss in bunches, 

 picked in the woods, which "looks pretty" under water. 

 " But I want some plants, snails, water-beetles, and craw- 

 fish," I said to such a dealer, recently. "Oh, you can't 

 get anything of that kind now, you know," he replied. 

 "They're all dead or froze up. We'll have plenty of 

 'em in the spring." 



Nevertheless, the film of ice over the 

 pond or stream need be no barrier to 

 the winter naturalist. The mud at the 

 borders of the bank holds a lively har- 

 vest, and does not seem to 

 care a snap for the seasons. 

 One good scoop with a 

 strong net will sometimes 

 bring up a veritable summer 

 haul of specimens fish, 

 frogs, water-beetles, lizards, 

 water-boatmen, dragon larvae, and 

 occasionally a dainty case of the 

 caddis, resembling one of the group 

 which I have here picked from 



;/ 





