THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

In such places, shrouded from observation in his solitary retreat, he follows with his eye the motions of the shoals of fish that wander heedlessly along; he marks the water-rat swimming to his burrow, the ducklings paddling among the water-weeds, the dabchick and the moorhen leisurely swimming on the surface; he selects his victim, and like the tiger, springing from the jungle, he rushes forth, seldom indeed missing his aim: there is a sudden rush, circle after circle forms on the surface of the water, and all is still again in an instant.

Houghton/Fishes, 1981