254 IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 



its colouring, and so characteristic its method 

 of settling on the face of the rock. 



Of reptiles, there were, of course, plenty of frogs 

 and lizards, but snakes were not common. Early in 

 our stay I killed one close to the tent, but this was 

 done out of consideration for female nerves, for it 

 was only a common grass-snake. Later on I was 

 glad to be able to despatch a good-sized horned 

 viper, at the unusual elevation of five thousand 

 feet, and, what is more, he was lying on the snow. 

 These very poisonous snakes are the pest of the 

 Balkan Peninsula, and are quite unmistakable, 

 from the horn which grows upwards and forwards 

 on the snout. During our stay a Turk was bitten 

 by one at Nevesinje, and died the same day. A 

 beagle of mine was bitten at this camp and 

 another at the next, but probably both by common 

 vipers, as they both recovered. 



Of insects there are any quantity, but I am no 

 entomologist. Grasshoppers of every sort and 

 size, butterflies, moths, beetles, from great stag 

 and antelope beetles downwards, flies, and creep- 

 ing things innumerable, made themselves rather a 

 nuisance. So, too, did the mosquitoes in July and 

 August, possibly partly owing to the vicinity of 

 the Jezero, but they are everywhere in these woods. 



The flora of the Velez is very beautiful, and 

 should prove most interesting to a botanist. 

 When we first went into camp, the plains were 



