248 A SPORTING PARADISE 



and the Indian spies young loons with their 

 parents not 500 yards off. More garru- 

 lous do the old birds become as we approach ; 

 at length, after expending their cries in vain, 

 they raise their graceful figures, and in the usual 

 way, half-flying, half-swimming, splash the waters 

 with their wings like the paddles of a steamboat 

 for upwards of fifty yards, then rising above 

 the surface, shoot rapidly away to yonder islet 

 in the distance and abandon their offspring to 

 their fate. 



" A more beautiful sight can scarcely be ima- 

 gined than, by the side of some pool, etc., to peer 

 through the darkening waters, and watch the 

 finny tribes pursuing their various modes of 

 life. It is not often that one is so fortunate, but 

 now and then among the clear waters I have 

 come on a basin, with its bottom covered with 

 rounded stones, where, by the side of the water- 

 logged pine or jutting shelf, half-hidden from 

 view, and, tiger-like, prepared for a sudden dash, 

 lurks the brook-trout. 



" See, those large bright eyes are scanning 

 every corner ! How graceful are the movements 

 of the fins, every ray of which is in motion ; 

 whilst the regular heaving of the gills, and the 



