HAUNTS OF THE OTTER 51 



creatures can dine on what he leaves on the banks. 

 This copse is one of their roads and playgrounds. 

 But for one drawback one could stay here for a long 

 time ; at every step one takes swarms of midges rise 

 up and give one notice to quit by stinging severely. 

 It soon becomes torment unbearable, so without 

 any more cautious stepping, I dash into the meadow 

 and bathe hands and face to relieve my wounded 

 feelings. 



Gently jogging on after this through one or two 

 meadows, and skirting the edge of the willow holts, I 

 reach a portion of bog meadow. On the edge of this, 

 close to the river, is a clump of bush cover mixed up 

 with rough clumps of rushes. Through this runs a 

 spout in other words, a disused bog-land drain. 

 Some old decayed posts and rails, covered with moss 

 and lichen, are scattered about the entrance to the 

 spout. The meadow is dotted about with yellow iris, 

 and the golden flowers of the kingcup blaze out from 

 their cool-looking rich green leaves. Other flowers 

 there are, but the irises and the kingcups stand out 

 from all. Some grand oaks stand close to the water's 

 edge, and some which have been felled and barked in 

 the spring lie close to them, making a good fore- 

 ground. The midges fortunately are not present 

 here. 



E 2 



