316 
WILD NORWAY. 
reeds forbade all hope of rod-fishing, even had I known 
what lure to employ. Their curiously-compressed bodies 
are beautifully adapted for navigating subaquatic reed- 
forests ; carp, in fact, among fish, seem counterparts 
of the crakes and rails among birds. Pike also abound 
here, and no doubt many other varieties of coarse fish : 
while the reed-brakes were tunnelled by otters. 
The change from spring to summer in the fen was 
remarkable. The summer-heats of June stimulated 
aquatic vegetation. Where, in May, one traversed 
almost bare grassy bog, we now had to force a way 
waist-deep in sedge. The erewhiles open water was 
occupied by reeds five or six feet in height, and the 
insect-plague was well-nigh unendurable. Biting gnats 
and mosquitoes buzzed in clouds, and the reed-beds 
gleamed with the blue “ damsel-fly,” while the deadly 
clegg and gadfly were now in full force. In June we 
were fain to leave the languor-laden morass and to 
fly towards the cooler north. 
