120 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
closely have I watched the doings of these tiny 
things among the dead leaves and water débrs, 
and never have I doubted that the object of their 
search was the larve of water-beetles. They do 
not destroy spawn, nor even the smallest fish. 
Of both charges the water-ouzel must be written 
down innocent; and this was as the late Frank 
Buckland thought. Another harmless vegetable 
feeder is the vole, though it also has been de- 
nounced as a destroyer. Nothing can be said in 
defence of the kingfisher. The bad habit is bred 
in him; and he is almost welcome to the fish in 
return for the pleasure he gives us as we watch 
him capture them. Often, with her young ones, 
does the hen-bird take possession of some watch- 
tower just above the stream, and no fish she can 
lift out of the water is allowed to pass under. 
The heron is another poacher, and perhaps de- 
stroys greater quantities of immature fish than 
any of the creatures just mentioned. Tributary 
streams, in which numbers of small fish are 
usually found, are often covered in with wire 
netting to prevent his depredations; but, maybe, 
a more practical method is to place in such 
streams artificial “rests” for the fry and year- 
lings to shelter under. The case against the 
heron has long been proved; but the fact received 
confirmation of a striking kind from the rearing- 
