British Wild Beasts. 177 



woodpecker, and heron. Its analogy in poetry to the heron 

 is very close, for like that bird, it is referred to occa- 

 sionally as a fish-destroyer, but chiefly as a quarry for 

 trained hawks ; so it fares with the poor " water-dog." Scott 

 devotes to it one good passage, but he, the poet of the 

 Scottish stream and loch, ought to have devoted at least 

 a dozen. 



•' Grayling and trout their tjTant know, 

 As between reed and sedge he peers. 

 With fierce round snout and sharpened ears ; 

 Or, prowling by the moonbeam cool, 

 Watches the stream or swims the pooh" 



Though sometimes mentioned as a fish consumer, it is more 

 frequent as a beast of chase. Thus Somerville in his cruel 

 *' poem "— 



" Yon hollow trunk. 

 That with its hoary head incurved salutes 

 The passing wave, must be the tyrant's fort 

 And dread abode. How these impatient dimb. 

 While others at the root incessant bay ! 

 They pull him down. See there he dives along ! 

 Th' ascending bubbles mark his gloomy way. 

 Quick fix the nets, and cut oflF his retreat 

 Into the shelt'ring depths. 



Ah ! there he vents ! 

 The pack plunge headlong, and protended spears 

 Menace destruction, while the troubled surge 

 Indignant foams, and all the scaly kind, 

 Affrighted hide their heads. Wild tumult reigns, 

 And loud uproar. Ah ! there once more he vents ; 

 See ! that bold hound has seized him, down they sink 

 Together lost ; but soon shall he repent 

 His rash assault. 



Again he vents ; 

 Again the crowd attack. That spear has pierced 

 His neck, the crimson waves confess the wound. 



M 



