THE RECLUSE. 



Bide. I believe this to be the animal said to be so 

 long lost in England, the water-shrew (Sorex 

 iod'wns of Pennant) .... 



"I have said he only appears at evening, and 

 such are his habits. Once, at broad and bright 

 noon, while leaning on a tree, gazing on the sun- 

 sparkles passing (like fairy lights) in numberless 

 and continual succession under the gentlest breath 

 of air, I was aware of my little friend running 

 nimbly on the surface among them. My rapture 

 caused me to start with delight, on which he 

 vanished to security, within his rush-fringed 

 bank. ... I should have mentioned that, on 

 very still evenings, when my ear was close to the 

 ground, I fancied I heard him utter a very short, 

 shrill, feeble sibilation, not unlike that of the 

 grasshopper-lark, in mild, light summer nights, 

 but nothing near so loud, or long continued. 

 Though I have watched for him warily in that 

 and other places, after having, to the end of May, 

 contributed to the myriads of my amusements, I 

 never saw him more."* 



* Mag. Nat. Hist., ii. p. 219. 



207 



