140 Nature Notes. [Sess. 



winding nooks, shaded with alder, hawthorn, and willow, alter- 

 nating with clear and open reaches as straight as can be, 

 appeal to every lover of nature. Animals, birds, insects, and 

 fishes are its own natural children. A steady watch kept 

 though a long summer day at one end of a reach, especially 

 if the water lies along the side of a grass-field skirted by a 

 wood, will explain much to any one who has the instinct and 

 patience to observe. The observer must be up before the 

 dawn Oi day till noon, or from midday to midnight, for 

 several days, till the signs and sounds of the living lan- 

 guage of nature have become familiar to him. The only 

 implements needed are a field-glass and note-book, and he 

 should remember to note down at once every fact observed. 

 A person who is watching living nature cannot get on with- 

 out a field-glass, and loses much when he attempts it. If he 

 goes too near, he disturbs the harmony of the animal and bird 

 life which he is seeking to understand. When the place of 

 observation has been carefully chosen behind a screen of 

 chervil, cow -parsnip, or willow-herb, that grow so rankly 

 among the grass on the banks, a fine field for inquiry is 

 opened out before the eager eyes of the naturalist, as he 

 gazes through his glass up the burn. In the near fore- 

 ground the yellow iris is past the flower, and some of its 

 seeds are well advanced. It stands high above the bur-reed 

 sedge and floating club-rush in the water, all of which come 

 into view at a single glance ; while close to the bank, on the 

 wet mud, the water-figwort is just opening its peculiar flowers. 

 Looking up the burn where a bend shows a length of its 

 course, one can watch the water-voles. If one observes them 

 carefully, it will be seen how varied their diet is. Although 

 they usually live on green food or grain, an eel or a small 

 flounder does not come amiss to them. Their favourite food 

 is the cow-parsnip and the pithy stems of the giant rush. A 

 heron may also chance to be seen at the edge of the burn, 

 where, if undisturbed, he will sit for hours with his shoulders 

 high up, the neck bent backwards, and the head sunk on the 

 chest, ever ready for one of those lightning thrusts with his 

 long beak which neither fish nor fry can escape if they are 

 once well within reach. Besides the vole and heron, one will be 

 sure to see more than one kind of water-wagtail, and perhaps 



