FURRED AND FEATHERED YOUiXGSTERS. 21 



bridges, where the water rushed under the elm- 

 shaded road into the river below ; the bay itself, 

 on both sides of it, was littered with great stone 

 slabs, some above the water and others beneath 

 it. These had been pushed out from the ancient 

 walls of the tumbling bay by the roots of the great 

 trees that lined the banks on either side. Perch, 

 trout, eels, and dace nourished here to perfection. 



When the river was in flood, the fish we have 

 mentioned rushed up the stream under the road, 

 into the tumbling bay, and stayed there. If it had 

 not been for the otters that made this place one of 

 their favourite fishing-pools, the fish would hardly 

 have had room to swim about in. 



At the small lead-light window that looked out 

 on the pool, many a time has "Old Thomas" — 

 rightly so called, for he was old, like his master — 

 seen the animals fishing in the early morning, when 

 he had been at night -work in the mill. The size of 

 any otter, quite irrespective of sex — although the 

 dog, as he is called, is always the largest — depends 

 on the quality and quantity of the creature's food ; 

 and how hard they have to work for it ! I have seen 

 some fair-sized otters recently, but I am very sorry 



