1 82 Trails to Woods and Waters 



"They are mighty funny little creatures. 

 They can bite too. If you don't believe it 

 just step on an ant-hill some time and let 

 about a thousand of them run up your leg. 



" Don't see anything else about the old 

 porch, do you, Harry? " continued Ben. 



I peeked into all the cracks and crannies, 

 but could see nothing. 



" I can see a mighty interesting old chap 

 in the dirt just underneath the piazza," said 

 Ben, pointing almost under my bare feet. 

 " If he had been a bear he might have bitten 

 you." 



I strained my eyes but could see nothing. 



" It is just one of nature's little tricks, 

 boy," said Ben. " He is what is called pro- 

 tectively colored. That is, his clothes just 

 match his surroundings." 



He was lying partly buried in the dirt, and 

 even when Ben pointed him out to me, I could 

 not see him until we poked him with a stick, 

 and made him disclose himself. 



" He is a great hider, is Bufo, the hop- 

 toad," continued Ben, " and a most useful 



