Chapter VIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

later than; following

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

feeling or showing anger

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

an upward slope or grade (as in a road)

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

use to one's advantage

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

formed or made thin by hammering

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

stretch (the neck) so as to see better

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

weak from exhaustion

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

plural of “eddy” — founder of Christian Science in 1866 (1821-1910)

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

in or to another place

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

go on board

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

deeply involved especially in something complicated

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

divisible by two

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

borne up by or suspended in a liquid

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

to a considerable degree

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

inflected form of “hug” — hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

having long legs

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

the common people generally

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

expressing sorrow

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

above and across; more than

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

-ing form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

covered with or resembling slime

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

of the white color of snow

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

having or growing on or from a peduncle or stalk

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

not given to gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

(of liquids) clouded as with sediment

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

past form of “twine” — spin, wind, or twist together

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

past form of “undermine” — destroy property or hinder normal operations

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome

From this reading We hugged the banks in our ascent, darting from one side of the stream to the other, to avail ourselves of the _back-sets_, or eddies, sometimes losing, by an unsuccessful attempt, all we had gained by half an hour of hard paddling.

plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

in or at the place that

From this reading The banks were much torn by the water; in some places they had fallen in, carrying many trees into the stream, where they remained anchored to the shore by the numerous tough vines that twined around them.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading Elsewhere the trees, half undermined, leaned heavily over the current, in which the long vines hung trailing in mournful masses, like the drooping leaves of the funeral willow.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was three days after the rain had ceased, before we could embark on the river, and even then its current was angry and turbid, and filled with floating trees.

plural of “worm” — any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae

From this reading The long grass on the low islands had been beaten down, and was covered with a slimy deposit, over which stalked hungry water-birds, the snow-white ibis, and long-shanked crane, in search of worms and insects, and entangled fish.