VIII MAY-FLIES 311 



flying away. In half an hour I was able to return to 

 the garden and take off the cloth, when the number 

 of winged Ephemerae was found to be greatly in- 

 creased, and still increasing. Many took to flight ; 

 still more were drowned. The element lately so 

 essential to their life had now become deadly to 

 them. 



" Ephemerae, attracted by the light, came from a 

 distance and were drowned in the bucket. In order 

 to spare them, and to examine more carefully those 

 which were uninjured, I covered the bucket once more 

 with the cloth, and held the light beneath. The cloth 

 was speedily covered with Insects, which were taken 

 off in handfuls. 



" So far I had taken no notice of what was going 

 on by the river, but now the exclamations of my 

 gardener, who had gone to the foot of the stairs, 

 attracted my attention. I then saw a sight beyond 

 all expectation. The Ephemerae filled the air like 

 the snow-flakes in a dense snow-storm. The steps 

 were covered to a depth of two, three, or even four 

 inches. A tract of water five or six feet across was 

 completely hidden, and as the floating Insects slowly 

 drifted away, others took their place. Several times 

 I was obliged to retreat to the top of the stairs from 

 the annoyance caused by the Ephemerae, which 

 dashed in my face, and got into my eyes, mouth, and 

 nose. 



" It is singular that nocturnal Moths, which shun 

 the light of day, should be attracted by the lights in 

 our rooms, and still more singular that these Ephe- 

 merae, which emerge only after sun-down, and perish 



