HERON AND WATER RAT. 31 



of greater weight than one pound. His structure 

 adapts him for wading to a certain depth into the 

 shallow waters on the borders of lakes, ponds, and 

 ditches, while his spider-like patience in watch- 

 ing for his prey, and his cat-like activity in secur- 

 ing it, enable him to thin the shoals of gudgeons, 

 eels, roach, and minnows, that pass along the 

 margins, and occasionally venture within his 

 reach : but the deep waters beyond are an un- 

 known region to him ; there the carp and tench 

 may swim in security, as far as he is concerned, 

 and the trout and perch pursue the fly, or spring 

 into the air, within a tantalizing distance of his 

 hungry beak : so long as they do not venture 

 within the range of that unerring weapon they are 

 safe: but how will it fare with that water rat, 

 which, returning to its subterranean habitation 

 from a visit to yonder meadow, is now about to 

 cross the brook, 



" ripae ulterioris amore ?" 



How fearlessly it commits itself to the stream ; 

 so unconscious is the little animal of danger that 

 it does not attempt to dive or alter its course, but 

 with snout projecting from the surface, and tail 

 extended, it swims steadily across to where the 

 motionless bird awaits its arrival. The slightest 



