368 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
bristles which form a wide fringe about a yawning cavity, 
and the bird flies rather low among the trees and over the 
undergrowth, snapping up nocturnal insects in flight. 
It is, perhaps, the greatest enemy of night-moths, but is 
quite as destructive to May beetles and other leaf-eating 
beetles.’ 
THE WOOD THRUSH AND THE WHIP-POOR-WILL 
When the faintest flush of morning 
Overtints the distant hill, 
Ij you waken, if you listen, 
You may hear the Whip-poor-will. 
Like an echo from the darkness, 
Strangely wild across the glen, 
Sound the notes of his finale, 
And the woods are still again. 
Soon upon the dreamy silence 
There will come a gentle trill, 
Like the whisper of an organ, 
Or the murmur of a rill, 
And then a burst of music, 
Swelling forth upon the air, 
Till the melody of morning 
Seems to come from everywhere. 
A Thrush, as if awakened by 
The parting voice of night, 
Gives forth a joyous welcome to 
The coming of the light. 
In early evening twilight 
Again the Wood Thrush sings, 
Like a voice of inspiration 
With the melody of strings; 
