WILDWOOD WAYS 



and I feel little pity for the mink or the 

 weasel, sleek and beautiful wild crea- 

 tures though they are, if they in turn fall 

 into the steel jaws which the trapper sets 

 for them in the narrow passes all up and 

 down the stream. It is the common lot 

 of the woods and only the swiftest and 

 most crafty can hope to escape it. The 

 mink devour the trout, and they, seem- 

 ingly innocent and beautiful enough to 

 have come up, water sprites, from that un- 

 known underground world whence well 

 the crystal waters in which they live, are 

 as greedy and irresponsible in their diet 

 as the mink themselves. Like them, when 

 hungry they will devour the young of 

 their own species and smack their lips 

 over the feast. 



The trout will eat anything that looks 

 to be alive either in the water or on the 

 surface. I often amuse myself in sum- 

 162 



