III. THE DABCHICKS. I09 



1855, whilst hovering over the river between 

 the foundry bridge and the ferry. It is not 

 a httle singular that a bird so accustomed to 

 the clear running streams of the north, and 

 the quiet haunts of the * silent angler/ should 

 be found, as in this case, almost within the 

 walls of the city, sporting over a river turbid 

 and discoloured from the neighbouring fac- 

 tories, and with the busy noise of traffic on 

 every side. About the same time that this 

 bird appeared near the city, three others were 

 observed on more than one occasion on the 

 Earlham river, by Mr. Fountaine, of Easton, 

 who is well acquainted with our British birds ; 

 but these suddenly disappeared, and were not 

 seen again." 



And all will disappear, and never be seen 

 again, but in skeleton, ill-covered with cam- 

 phorated rags of skin, under the present 

 scientific dispensation ; unless some kind- 

 hearted northern squire will let them have 

 the run and the dip of his brooks ; and teach 

 the village children to let them alone if they 

 like to wade down to the village. 



I am sixty-two, and have passed as much 

 time out of those years by torrent sides as 



