148 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
his temperament. For a few yards from the shore the waters 
were placid, lying as they did beneath the lee of the high banks. 
Farther away they rippled with the motion of the Coots, which 
swam round and round as near to the centre of the mere as they 
could get. The water looked dark and mysterious, as if fabled 
monsters lurked in the unknown depths. An old gentleman who 
remembered it becoming totally dry said that there was quite a 
deep hole in the centre of the mere, and that in its dry bed sprung 
up nettles of gigantic height, which proved an almost impenetrable 
phalanx. On this particular afternoon the tree shadows in the 
water looked blurred and indistinct; whilst from the distant 
woods came the lingering murmur of the wind, departing with 
the set of sun. From the rim of the crater acres and acres 
of seared bracken could be seen, rarely broken by a hawthorn 
bush, or a clump of furze, whilst the glory of the heather had 
departed. In different directions could be seen boundary banks, 
whose significance has long been lost, only useful in case of 
parish disputes; although one would think that hereabouts there 
is little worthy of disputation. 
On the great heathland surrounding the various meres, Moles — 
are extremely common. Stoats and Weasels are frequently 
caught; and at the end of April, 1895, a Badger, suckling two 
young ones, was trapped at West Wretham. The mother was 
stuffed, and is preserved at the hall. An attempt was made to 
rear the two cubs at the Home Farm, but did not succeed. The 
gamekeeper saw the footprints of this animal in the snow, and 
thought they belonged to a barefooted man; but being apprised 
of their real nature he set a trap, and caught the Badger. 
Rabbits are very plentiful; and the ungainly gallop of a Hare is — 
also by no means an uncommon sight. Vipers and Ringed Snakes 
are also not infrequently seen ;-while the borders of the meres 
form happy hunting-grounds for Frogs and Toads. The birds 
of the heathland are many. Wheatears and Stockdoves nest in 
disused rabbit-holes; Whinchats, Stonechats, Linnets, various 
species of Finches, Thrushes, Blackbirds, and Hedge Sparrows 
nest in the furze; and in the neighbouring plantations Long- 
eared Owls and numerous other birds of the woodland find a 
home. But Mother Karth is the place upon which most of the 
characteristic birds of the locality deposit the eggs which con- 
