THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



203 



face to face with a heron, standing solemnly upon 

 one leg, intently watching a shallow. The two 

 rival anglers watch each other with dubious looks. 

 The otter snarls at the bird, and the latter gives 

 a startled leap and a half-peck at the intruder. 

 The ottar is inclined for hostilities, but he is 

 afraid of the sharp and threatening beak of the 

 bird. Just then, however, he catches sight of an 

 object which is of more interest to him at present 

 than a combat. It is the snout and neck of an eel 

 projecting from the muddy bank. The otter slips 

 into the water, and ere the eel can withdraw into 

 its fastness, it is in his cruel gripe, and is drawn 

 out of the mud and carried to the opposite bank, 

 where, as the beast is hungry, it is eaten up head, 

 and till, and bones, and all. The otter then taken 

 to the water, and, after cruising about a little, he 

 sees another eel swimming with slow and sinuous 

 motion. This he has no difficulty in seizing, but 

 instead of being despatched like the former, it is 

 carried to the bank and left there, where, if by any 

 chance he should return hungry, it will be ready 

 for him. A large trout next claims his attention, 

 and in that wide reach of water the fish is more 

 than a match for the beast, although the latter 

 carries on the chase with great perseverance, 

 swimming under water, and following the trout 

 in all its darts and windings with astonishing 

 rapidity, rising now and then to tho surface to 

 breathe. But he cannot corner the trout, which 



