WATEB-BAT. 21 



The chief point of interest in this little creature 

 is its nest, which is not unfrequently found by 

 mowers and haymakers when they choose to exert 

 their eyes. 



One of these nests, that was brought to me by a 

 mower, was about the size of a cricket ball, and 

 almost as spherical. It was composed of dried 

 grass-stems, interwoven with each other in a manner 

 equally ingenious and perplexing. It was hollow, 

 without even a vestige of an entrance ; and the sub- 

 stance was so thin that every object would be visible 

 through the walls. How it was made to retain its 



WATER-EAT. 



spherical form, and how the mice were to find 

 ingress and egress, I could not even imagine. The 

 nest was fastened to two strong and coarse stems of 

 grass that bad grown near a ditch, and had over- 

 grown themselves in consequence of a superabun- 

 dance of nourishment. 



If we walk along the bank of a stream or a pond, 

 we sball probably hear a splash, and looking in its 

 direction, may see a creature diving or swimming, 

 which creature we call a Water-rat ; to the title of 



