26 APRIL AWAKENING. 



makes with its feet. The water bends only under 

 its slight weight, as jelly might under the tread of 

 a mouse. Its under parts are densely covered 

 with fine, grayish hairs which form a perfect 

 waterproof vestment. It has sucking mouth-parts 

 and preys on other insects by catching and hold- 

 ing them with its forelegs, which are especially 

 formed for the purpose. 



The shells of fresh water bivalves, scattered 

 along the shore, are also objects of interest. How 

 fragile they are, compared with those of the sea- 

 shore, or the salt-river bottoms ! The rays of the 

 light, when they are held before the eye, are 

 transmitted as readily as through a fine piece of 

 porcelain. 



The muskrats who have burrows in the banks, 

 evidently indulged in a clam supper last night, as 

 a change of diet. But few of the shells are 

 broken, and lie unhinged, with the rounded sides 

 down, showing the delicate bluish-white lining and 

 the beautiful iridescent hues. The platters have 

 been licked very clean, and the question is sug- 

 gested. How have these rodents, with no special 

 tools for the purpose, managed to open the tightly 

 closed valves so neatly.? It appears that the 

 remarkable intelligence of the creatures directed 

 them to place these mollusks on the dry banks 

 and wait till the valves begin to yawn for their 

 native beds, when the acute furry fishers pull 



