268 BIRD-HUNTING 



were related in any way to the larvae, but had strong 

 suspicions that they might be, and soon collected a 

 goodly number, only to find that the majority were 

 empty, the moths having emerged. That led me to 

 connect the cocoons with the numbers of small 

 whitish moths which were fluttering about the reeds 

 and settling on our clothes and about the boat. 

 Here was a scarce and valuable insect literally to be 

 seen in thousands, and I had nothing in which to 

 take the specimens or to keep them undamaged 

 until my return, not having provided myself with an 

 entomological collecting apparatus. 



After emerging with the greatest difficulty from 

 this place we found a big colony of Common Terns 

 {Sterna fluviatilis) and the graceful Little Black Tern 

 {Hydrochelidon nigra) nesting on the floating masses 

 of roots of the water-lily in very deep water. These 

 roots, matted together into lumps of varying sizes, 

 formed floating islands on which the birds had laid 

 their eggs. Here, too, were many nests of the 

 Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis). 



The scene everywhere was of great interest, 

 and of remarkable beauty. The many floating 

 islands of gigantic reeds, with their undergrowth of 

 ferns of a vivid green, reflected in the deep water ; 

 the water-lilies, and other water-plants strange to 

 me, made up a strange but enchanting picture. But 

 I could not help wondering what chance I should 



