66 My Pond. 



him, spinning round and round in circles like a tiny 

 dervish of the waters ; only there is no sacredness in 

 his devices, but only a disguise that he may dart the 

 better, and the more surely secure his prey. Crowds 

 of water-bugs are also at times to be seen, and water- 

 measurers with their most dainty aquatic appurtenances. 

 With what delicacy nature has furnished and armed 

 some apparently unworthy creatures ! Of course, my 

 pond has its due share of the more common visitors, 

 such as water- wagtails and swallows — the latter some- 

 times dipping into the water and causing a sudden 

 bright flash in the sunshine. Water-beetles, large and 

 small, reveal themselves at as many points as you look. 



Angling in such positions may well be called the 

 " contemplative man's recreation." It is, at all events, 

 a good introduction to nature in some of her phases, 

 for it would seem as though to take a rod in hand and 

 to appear completely absorbed in your pursuit was a 

 magical way to put all the denizens of the place quite 

 at their ease. They are indeed either very penetrating 

 or very cunning. It has been well said that — 



" In some instinctive way these wild creatures learn 

 to distinguish when one is or is not intent upon them 

 in a spirit of enmity ; and if very near it is always the 

 eye they watch. So long as you observe them, as it 

 were, from the corner of the eyeball, sideways, or look 

 over their heads at something beyond, it is well. Turn 

 your glance full upon them to get a better view, and 

 they are gone." 



To sit perfectly still, as Thoreau said, is a good means 

 to get all the wild things of wood and field to come and 

 show themselves to you in turn ; but I believe fishing, 

 which does not demand such unchanging cramping 

 positions, is a yet better one. A very good essay 



