216 THE EECLUSE. 



appear. Laying myself down, cautiously and motionless, 

 on the grass, I soon, to my delight and wonder, observed 

 it was a mouse. I repeatedly marked it glide from the 

 bank under water, and bury itself in the mass of leaves 

 at the bottom ; I mean the leaves that had fallen off the 

 trees in autumn, and which lay very thick over the mud. 

 It very shortly returned, and entered the bank, occasion- 

 ally putting its long, sharp nose out of the water, and 

 paddling close to the edge. This it repeated at very 

 frequent intervals, from place to place, seldom going 

 more than two yards from the side, and always returning 

 in about half a minute. I presume it sought and 

 obtained some insect or food among the rubbish and 

 leaves, and retired to consume it. Sometimes, it would 

 run a little on the surface, and sometimes, timidly and 

 hastily, come ashore, but with the greatest caution, and 

 instantly plunge in again. 



" During the whole sweet spring of that fine year I con- 

 stantly visited my. new acquaintance. When under water 

 he looks gray, on account of the pearly cluster of minute 

 air-bubbles that adhere to his fur, and bespangle him all 

 over. His colour, however, is very dark brown." .... 



After entering into some descriptive details of the speci- 

 men, Mr Dovaston proceeds : — " This minute description I 

 am enabled to give, having caught it in an angler's landing- 

 net, and carefully inspected it in a white basin of water. 

 The poor creature was extremely uneasy under inspection, 

 and we soon, with great pleasure, restored it to liberty 

 and love, for he had a companion, which, from her paler 



