THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 31 



but always on the wing. You vagrant fly, you 

 purblind moth, beware how you come within his 

 range! Observe his attitude, the curious move- 

 ment of his head, his "eye in a fine frenzy roll- 

 ing, glancing from heaven to earth, from earth to 

 heaven. " 



His sight is microscopic and his aim sure. 

 Quick as thought he has seized his victim and is 

 back to his perch. There is no strife, no pursuit, 

 — one fell swoop and the matter is ended. That 

 little sparrow, as you will observe, is less skilled. 

 It is the Socialisy and he finds his subsistence prop- 

 erly in various seeds and the larvae of insects, 

 though he occasionally has higher aspirations, and 

 seeks to emulate the pewee, commencing and end- 

 ing his career as a flycatcher by an awkward chase 

 after a beetle or "miller." He is hunting around 

 in the grass now, I suspect, with the desire to in- 

 dulge this favorite whim. There! — the opportu- 

 nity is afforded him. Away goes a little cream- 

 colored meadow-moth in the most tortuous course 

 he is capable of, and away goes Socialis in pursuit. 

 The contest is quite comical, though I dare say it 

 is serious enough to the moth. The chase contin- 

 ues for a few yards, when there is a sudden rush- 

 ing to cover in the grass, — then a taking to wing 

 again, when the search has become too close, and 

 the moth has recovered his wind. Socialis chirps 

 angrily, and is determined not to be beaten. Keep- 

 ing, with the slightest eff'ort, upon the heels of the 

 fugitive, he is ever on the point of halting to snap 



