i86 A LONELY WANDERER 



steadily through them* Orange was most persistent 

 in this prismatic circle, and it faded out imper- 

 ceptibly into yellow. Each passing cloud took up 

 the circle of delicate, transparent colour, holding it 

 around the moon with the accuracy and precision 

 of light's established ways. With each momentary 

 clearing of the sky all colour was lost in the clear 

 white light from the furrowed face of the glowing 

 satellite. Then another transparent cloud took up the 

 tint of the outer circle of colour, the fading yellow 

 of the uncertain circumference holding its rich 

 gradations to the almost invisible blue close to the 

 inner ring of light. 



On such nights in autumn a field-glass sometimes 

 reveals the small migrants trailing their lofty course 

 southward across the moon's disk, but it was a 

 surprise to see a large Hawk making its steady way 

 over the city toward the west at midnight, moving 

 quite low, and its steady course could be followed 

 after it had passed the circle of light and colour. 

 These birds of prey are uncertain in size and colour, 

 but they have distinct family characteristics. It was 

 probably a Red-shouldered Hawk or a Red-tailed 

 Hawk, but colours and markings were lost in the 

 black outline against the moon's light. It did not seem 

 large enough for a Goshawk, the predatory bird that 

 brings the family into disrepute, but size and distance 

 are uncertain on the brightest night when the horizon 



