THROUGH WILD EUROPE 267 



but only succeeded in finding one that was sub- 

 merged under more than a foot of water by a recent 

 flood. The labour now expended in forcing the 

 lodka through the dense reeds which towered over 

 our heads was excessive ; sometimes all our efforts 

 could not move the boat an inch. The heat was 

 terrific ; and shut in as we were by gigantic reeds 

 there seemed to be no air to breathe. We were 

 enveloped by dense clouds of hungry mosquitoes 

 and poisonous flies nearly as big as wasps, which 

 fetched blood at every bite, so that even the bare, 

 horny feet of the fisherman were streaked with blood. 

 Other insects, too, of a more interesting nature 

 were there in great numbers. I had been asked to 

 keep an eye open for specimens of the larva or pupa 

 of the moth Lcelia coznosa, which at one time was to 

 be found in our own Eastern counties, but which is 

 now extinct. Curiously enough, I had seen one 

 larva in Montenegro, but not knowing that it was of 

 any interest had not troubled about it. While strug- 

 gling in this desolate place I suddenly saw a similar 

 larva on a reed-leaf we had passed. Making signs 

 to the Russian to go back a little it was soon found, 

 and proved to be identical, and I then examined 

 the reeds with more care as we progressed. No 

 more larvae could be seen, but very many elongated 

 whitish cocoons were discovered on the stems of the 

 reeds. I had no evidence that these pupa cocoons 



