60 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



however severe the -winter, there are always some air- 

 holes. These they seek, undoubtedly. They must know 

 of them, and, remembering their whereabouts, are able 

 to go to them ; a little fact showing, I think, that even 

 these whirligigs have a modicum of intelligence. But 

 what do gyrini find to eat at such a time? I leave the 

 subject, without reply or suggestion, for others to de- 

 termine. But, while we are straining our eyes to fol- 

 low the mazy threadings of the gyrinus, a fish or turtle 

 passes leisurely by, and the insect is at once forgotten. 

 Why are these greater animals not tucked away in the 

 mud? Have we not been taught this in the books? It 

 is a somewhat painful sensation to have preconceived 

 notions and statements in print so emphatically contra- 

 dicted ; but, if 3'ou wish to know nature through books 

 only, don't wander to Poaetquissings. I cannot find 

 that any of our animals live strictly up to the rules laid 

 down for them in the library ; and, surely, it cannot be 

 that this small creek's tenantry are exceptions, for the 

 creek " is by nature provided with everytliing that man 

 can desire," and man does not desire to continually find 

 himself mistaken. Be this as it may, Poaetquissings' 

 fishes are full of life in winter, and so, too, are many of 

 her turtles, and even a small proportion of her many 

 frogs. On the 12th of February, 1875, 1 visited Poaet- 

 quissings, and experimented in fishing with a net placed 

 under the ice. There were no means of disturbing the 

 fishes, if at rest in or on the mud, and any that might be 

 caught would be such as were voluntarily moving about. 

 After a lapse of half an hour the net was removed, and 

 I found seventeen fish had been " gilled " — sunfish, cat- 



