THE GREAT REED. 103 



Here is a short mention of the more likely site by 

 Major C. R. Conder, leader of the Palestine Exploring 

 Expedition. " The plain to the north of Nazareth is 

 for the most part arable land, but near at hand there 

 is a pestilent swamp surrounded by Reeds : whence 

 the name of ' Kaneh,' or ' -Canes.' Camping on the 

 borders of this unhealthy morass, we suffered from 

 the inevitable fever, as well as from the most notable 

 mosquitos in Palestine." Ossian says of the high- 

 bosomed Strinadona, the stately huntress of Tormoth 

 wild, that she is " fairer than the down of Cana." 

 This is the cotton grass (Erwphomni). It seems, 

 therefore, that the name " Cana " is applied in the 

 north of Europe to another order of water-loving 

 plants. 



The Arundo endures an amount of ill-treatment 

 which would destroy any plant with less vitality. 

 After the stems have been cut off near the ground, 

 fire is set to the stumps, so that nothing can remain 

 alive but the creeping stocks (rhizomes) which lie half 

 buried in the mud. The ashes are left to manure the 

 earth for the growth of the following year. The juicy 

 shoots are greedily eaten by goats, asses, and other 

 animals. 



These reeds not only beautify the landscape, but 

 they afford a welcome shelter to many a small bird 

 or quadruped, and to many a flowering plant. The 

 Aristolochm is almost always to be found on the 

 borders of a Reed-brake. Where the Aristolochia is 

 very plentiful, and the ground is spongy, you will find 

 the Thais (Fig. 40) a butterfly little valued by collectors 

 in spite of its exquisite markings, for the unlucky insect 

 is easily found and easily caught. Thais abounds at 



