250 ON SURREY BILLS. 



sufficient evidence ; when this is supplemented by a 

 gentle twirl, parting the river-foam which has settled 

 in this oily pool, the evidence is complete. They run 

 an enormous size here; those who are familiar with 

 the substantial household implements called bellows, 

 may form some idea of the size and appearance of a 

 good-sized bream, one of the two varieties having 

 received the local appellation of " bellows " bream. 



Moor -hens haunt this stretch of water in great 

 numbers. Careful as they are about their broods, 

 they do not rear them all ; the fish pouch numbers 

 of the young ones. Water-voles and rabbits have 

 their holes in the river-bank, side by side. When 

 floods come they are driven out in all directions. 

 Here in mid-day the fox creeps through the ferns 

 on the slope above, and hides in the iris clumps, on 

 the watch for rabbits or moor-hens. The first come, 

 the first snapped, is his motto. And the otter can 

 be seen at times in the meadows at play with her 

 young ones, like a cat with her kittens. Cattle feed 

 in the rich grass, dragon-flies dash- here and there 

 after their insect prey, while the sedge-warblers chant 

 and chide as if in reproach of the river's sleepy flow. 



As a fish for sport barbel is held in high esteem, 



