AMONG THE WINTER TWIGS 



January $th 



m 



HAVE recommended the Cecropia 

 and Prometheus cocoons as desirable 

 quests for a winter walk. There 

 was a double purpose in that rec- 

 ommendation ; for, even though we get no cocoons, 

 we are led into wild haunts where various other in- 

 teresting things are to be seen. There is much be- 

 sides cocoons to tempt our search among the denuded 

 twigs of the woods. The fallen leaves have laid bare 

 many of the pranks of insect life that are completely 

 concealed in the summer foliage. What a variety of 

 interesting galls are now to be found that had escaped 

 us when last we walked this way ! There is that bulby- 

 stemmed golden -rod. We see them on all sides now 

 against the snow. It is worth our while to gather a 

 few of them to keep till spring, when we may witness 

 the little winged tenant emerging through a tiny hole, 

 which is even now to be found beneath the bark if our 



