VII WATER 253 



tion. Here and there a speckled Trout may- 

 be detected (rather by the shadow than the 

 substance) suspended in the clear water, or 

 darting across a shallow ; if we are quiet we 

 may see Water Hens or Wild Ducks swim- 

 ming among the lilies, a Kingfisher sitting on 

 a branch or . flashing away like a gleam of 

 light ; a^ solemn Heron stands maybe at the 

 water's edge, or slowly rises flapping his 

 great wings ; Water Rats, neat and clean 

 little creatures, very different from their 

 coarse brown namesakes of the land, are 

 abundant everywhere ; nor need we even yet 

 quite despair of seeing the Otter himself. 



Insects of course are gay, lively, and in- 

 numerable ; but after all the richest fauna is 

 that visible only with a microscope. 



" To gaze," says Dr. Hudson, " into that 

 wonderful world which lies in a drop of 

 water, crossed by some stems of green weed, 

 to see transparent living mechanism at work, 

 and to gain some idea of its modes of action, 

 to watch a tiny speck that can sail through 

 the prick of a needle's point ; to see its 

 crystal armour flashing with ever varying 



