The Eambles of an Idler 



graceful beyond description. Only our ferns 

 are comparable to it. Fishes bave their forests 

 but to explore them is unduly adventurous. I 

 never was equal to diving. Not only adven- 

 turous but dangerous. Savage creatures lurk 

 in the darkest recesses of these rank aquatic 

 growths. The snapping turtle, for example. 



In place of attempting a personal exploration, 

 I sent a stout stick as my representative — a 

 crooked one, perhaps, more appropriate — ^into 

 the milfoil, bladder-wort and yellow pond-lily, 

 the leaves of which last named plant are very 

 beautiful when submerged and quickly turn to 

 green slime when removed from the water. 

 The steady current soon set the disturbed plants 

 aright, but the hidden fishes were more seriously 

 disturbed. Out skurried many of them and be- 

 sides the sun-fish, there came a full-grown, grim, 

 black pirate perch. Evidently disliking the 

 light of day, it moved about petulantly and soon 

 found shelter under a root that projected from 

 the sand. There, when quiet was restored, it 

 held itself in one position by the slightest pos- 

 sible fin movement. Such of these fishes as I 

 have kept in an aquarium were distinctly noc- 

 turnal in habit, during the day remaining in the 



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