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. 
_ hese 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 swiftly 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 their given 
names—I recalled ydrobates, Aquarius, and 
remigis. 
The spur-winged jacanas are very skilful in 
their dainty treading of water-lily leaves; but 
