ANIMAL LIFE. 159 



I could believe that any thing of the size could equal 

 the former, I have for some time been compelled un- 

 equivocally to give the palm to the latter. Now if 

 we had this fish in the Serpentine, the water would 

 not remain without a ripple; his presence would 

 soon become known by his rising at the flies and other- 

 wise disporting himself upon the surface. Who that 

 has stood at sunset by the brink of some calm river, 

 or the margin of some unrippled loch, say in the high- 

 lands, where trout are abundant, has not been de- 

 lighted to watch the eager fish rising after their prey, 

 and inwardly made notes of the size of each, from 

 the amount of broken water displaced ? When we 

 have suitable homes to offer, do by all means let us 

 Jiave lots of animals; much room for thought is 

 afforded by their habits, much pleasure from their 

 innocent pastimes, and the influence engendered by 

 association with them is certainly most beneficial. 



