GUINEVERE THE MYSTERIOUS 129 



sound, and odor, as if on purpose to distract my 

 attention. But I remained unmoved, and indica- 

 tions of rare and desirable beings passed un- 

 heeded. 



A flotilla of little water-striders came rowing 

 themselves along, racing for a struggling ant 

 which had fallen into the milky quicksand. 

 These were in my line of vision, so I watched 

 them for a while, letting the corner of my eye 

 keep guard for the real aristocrats of the milky 

 sea — whoever they were. My eye was close 

 enough, my elevation sufficiently low to become 

 one with the water-striders, and to become ex- 

 cited over the adventures of these little petrels; 

 and in my absorption I almost forgot my chief 

 quest. As soaring birds seem at times to rest 

 against the very substance of cloud, as if upheld 

 by some thin lift of air, so these insects glided as 

 easily and skimmed as swiftty upon the surface 

 film of water. I did not know even the genus 

 of this tropical form; but insect taxonomists 

 have been particularly happy in then* given 

 names — I recalled Ilydrohates, Aquarius, and 

 reviigis. 



The spur-winged jacanas are very skilful in 

 their dainty treading of water-lily leaves; but 



