i2o BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



closely have I watched the doings of these tiny 

 things among the dead leaves and water ddbris, 

 and never have I doubted that the object of their 

 search was the larvae of water-beetles. They do 

 not destroy spawn, nor even the smallest fish. 

 Of both charges the water-ouzel must be written 

 down innocent ; and this was as the late Frank 

 Buckland thought. Another harmless vegetable 

 feeder is the vole, though it also has been de- 

 nounced as a destroyer. Nothing can be said in 

 defence of the kingfisher. The bad habit is bred 

 in him ; and he is almost welcome to the fish in 

 return for the pleasure he gives us as we watch 

 him capture them. Often, with her young ones, 

 does the hen-bird take possession of some watch- 

 tower just above the stream, and no fish she can 

 lift out of the water is allowed to pass under. 

 The heron is another poacher, and perhaps de- 

 stroys greater quantities of immature fish than 

 any of the creatures just mentioned. Tributary 

 streams, in which numbers of small fish are 

 usually found, are often covered in with wire 

 netting to prevent his depredations ; but, maybe, 

 a more practical method is to place in such 

 streams artificial " rests " for the fry and year- 

 lings to shelter under. The case against the 

 heron has long been proved; but the fact received 

 confirmation of a striking kind from the rearing- 



