THE LITTLE BROOK GONE DRY 309 
sedges; also, some fine close-growing tussock-sedges, that 
build hillocks of green at the edges of the channel. There 
will be grasses, also; especially the pale cut-grass (Leersia), 
fringing the edges of former pools. There will be a few fine 
mints, such as pepper- 
mint, spearmint, water- 
mint, and the less 
attractive bugle-weed. 
There will be a few fine 
wild flowers, such as 
turtleheads, skullcaps 
and lobelias. There 
will be evidences of 
animal life in the tracks 
of the muskrat and of 
birds in the dried mud- 
bed of the pools. 
Robins, that sit, while 
we pass by, on the lower 
branches of the trees, 
with gaping beaks, pant- 
ing in the shade—these 
have been exploring the 
brook-bed before us. 
They have been seeking 
for things to replace 
earthworms in their 
Ibteratt offset is shown enlarged at the right. of the topsoil m the 
fields has driven the 
wormsdown below. Other things there are to take advantage 
of the hapless brook-dwellers. The concentration of the 
pools leaves their inhabitants exposed to merciless 
enemies. 
