190 THE PERCH. 



after nightfall, this animal's natural timidity keep- 

 ing him indoors in his burrow during the daytime. 

 The large lake is nearly square, and belted on two 

 sides with noble timber, an island in the centre of 

 it being similarly wooded. 



At the side farthest from the boat-house, sedges 

 and water-lilies form harbours and breeding places 

 for the pike and perch. A mighty fish had his 

 home there a fact imparted to me by the keeper. 

 Accordingly I arranged to have a day's fishing to 

 try and capture it, and invited the late Mr. Francis 

 Francis cheerfullest of companions to accom- 

 pany me. My other friend lived in the neighbour- 

 hood, and I had the pleasure of his presence, as 

 also on subsequent occasions when angling there ; 

 but, as he was fonder of shooting than the sister- 

 sport, and there were plenty of wild-duck, which 

 were bred there, also coots and moor-hens, he 

 usually brought his gun with him. 



Francis and I, on arriving at the station, found 

 my friend's waggonette awaiting us. On our 

 drive to his house we placed our livebait cans 

 and their contents in a brook which flowed 

 through the keeper's garden, and found our dace 

 alive . and in splendid order when we called for 

 them next morning to take them to the lake, a 

 mile distant. The boat-house reached, we lost no 

 time in putting rods and tackle together and get- 

 ting afloat in a punt, well appointed with every 

 requisite in the shape of oars, poles, hitchers, &c. ; 

 on its stern was painted in gold letters, " Rev. 

 Charles Kingsley," the punt he had built on the 

 Thames and conveyed there for his own private 

 use. Francis and I rowed to the top corner of the 

 lake, putting my friend (our companion and host) 



