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very few breams； and a couple of eels； one weighing four pounds I
am thus particular because the weight of a fish is commonly its only
title to fame； and these are the only eels I have heard of here；
also； I have a faint recollection of a little fish some five inches
long； with silvery sides and a greenish back； somewhat dace…like in
its character； which I mention here chiefly to link my facts to
fable。 Nevertheless； this pond is not very fertile in fish。 Its
pickerel； though not abundant； are its chief boast。 I have seen at
one time lying on the ice pickerel of at least three different
kinds： a long and shallow one； steel…colored； most like those caught
in the river； a bright golden kind； with greenish reflections and
remarkably deep； which is the most common here； and another；
golden…colored； and shaped like the last； but peppered on the sides
with small dark brown or black spots； intermixed with a few faint
blood…red ones； very much like a trout。 The specific name
reticulatus would not apply to this； it should be guttatus rather。
These are all very firm fish； and weigh more than their size
promises。 The shiners； pouts； and perch also； and indeed all the
fishes which inhabit this pond； are much cleaner； handsomer； and
firmer…fleshed than those in the river and most other ponds； as the
water is purer； and they can easily be distinguished from them。
Probably many ichthyologists would make new varieties of some of
them。 There are also a clean race of frogs and tortoises； and a few
mussels in it； muskrats and minks leave their traces about it； and
occasionally a travelling mud…turtle visits it。 Sometimes； when I
pushed off my boat in the morning； I disturbed a great mud…turtle
which had secreted himself under the boat in the night。 Ducks and
geese frequent it in the spring and fall； the white…bellied swallows
（Hirundo bicolor） skim over it； and the peetweets （Totanus
macularius） 〃teeter〃 along its stony shores all summer。 I have
sometimes disturbed a fish hawk sitting on a white pine over the
water； but I doubt if it is ever profaned by the wind of a gull；
like Fair Haven。 At most； it tolerates one annual loon。 These are
all the animals of consequence which frequent it now。
You may see from a boat； in calm weather； near the sandy
eastern shore； where the water is eight or ten feet deep； and also
in some other parts of the pond； some circular heaps half a dozen
feet in diameter by a foot in height； consisting of small stones
less than a hen's egg in size； where all around is bare sand。 At
first you wonder if the Indians could have formed them on the ice
for any purpose； and so； when the ice melted； they sank to the
bottom； but they are too regular and some of them plainly too fresh
for that。 They are similar to those found in rivers； but as there
are no suckers nor lampreys here； I know not by what fish they could
be made。 Perhaps they are the nests of the chivin。 These lend a
pleasing mystery to the bottom。
The shore is irregular enough not to be monotonous。 I have in
my mind's eye the western； indented with deep bays； the bolder
northern； and the beautifully scalloped southern shore； where
successive capes overlap each other and suggest unexplored coves
between。 The forest has never so good a setting； nor is so
distinctly beautiful； as when seen from the middle of a small lake
amid hills which rise from the water's edge； for the water in which
it is reflected not only makes the best foreground in such a case；
but； with its winding shore； the most natural and agreeable boundary
to it。 There is no rawness nor imperfection in its edge there； as
where the axe has cleared a part； or a cultivated field abuts on it。
The trees have ample room to expand on the water side； and each
sends forth its most vigorous branch in that direction。 There
Nature has woven a natural selvage； and the eye rises by just
gradations from the low shrubs of the shore to the highest trees。
There are few traces of man's hand to be seen。 The water laves the
shore as it did a thousand years ago。
A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature。
It is earth's eye； looking into which the beholder measures the
depth of his own nature。 The fluviatile trees next the shore are
the slender eyelashes which fringe it； and the wooded hills and
cliffs around are its overhanging brows。
Standing on the smooth sandy beach at the east end of the pond；
in a calm September afternoon； when a slight haze makes the opposite
shore…line indistinct； I have seen whence came the expression； 〃the
glassy surface of a lake。〃 When you invert your head； it looks like
a thread of finest gossamer stretched across the valley； and
gleaming against the distant pine woods； separating one stratum of
the atmosphere from another。 You would think that you could walk
dry under it to the opposite hills； and that the swallows which skim
over might perch on it。 Indeed； they sometimes dive below this
line； as it were by mistake； and are undeceived。 As you look over
the pond westward you are obliged to employ both your hands to
defend your eyes against the reflected as well as the true sun； for
they are equally bright； and if； between the two； you survey its
surface critically； it is literally as smooth as glass； except where
the skater insects； at equal intervals scattered over its whole
extent； by their motions in the sun produce the finest imaginable
sparkle on it； or； perchance； a duck plumes itself； or； as I have
said； a swallow skims so low as to touch it。 It may be that in the
distance a fish describes an arc of three or four feet in the air；
and there is one bright flash where it emerges； and another where it
strikes the water； sometimes the whole silvery arc is revealed； or
here and there； perhaps； is a thistle…down floating on its surface；
which the fishes dart at and so dimple it again。 It is like molten
glass cooled but not congealed； and the few motes in it are pure and
beautiful like the imperfections in glass。 You may often detect a
yet smoother and darker water； separated from the rest as if by an
invisible cobweb； boom of the water nymphs； resting on it。 From a
hilltop you can see a fish leap in almost any part； for not a
pickerel or shiner picks an insect from this smooth surface but it
manifestly disturbs the equilibrium of the whole lake。 It is
wonderful with what elaborateness this simple fact is advertised
this piscine murder will out and from my distant perch I
distinguish the circling undulations when they are half a dozen rods
in diameter。 You can even detect a water…bug （Gyrinus） ceaselessly
progressing over the smooth surface a quarter of a mile off； for
they furrow the water slightly； making a conspicuous ripple bounded
by two diverging lines； but the skaters glide over it without
rippling it perceptibly。 When the surface is considerably agitated
there are no skaters nor water…bugs on it； but apparently；