176 EYE SPY 
has gradually been pushed upward and out by the 
growing seed-tuft. In another hour, perhaps, the 
calyx will again open, and bend down against the 
stem, while the bed at the bottom to which the 
seeds are attached will round upward through the 
feathers outward in the form of a ball. This 
rounded seed-bed, or receptacle, as it is called in 
our botany, shortly withers, and the winged para- 
chutes take flight at the slightest zephyr, whereas 
at first a smart breeze would have been required. 
Now all this is by -the -way, for not every one 
understands how the dandelion ball is made. I 
know a little bird, however, who has found it out 
to her advantage. I have just alluded to a cer- 
tain mutilation of this calyx which puzzled me. I 
have shown one of these calyxes in my title pict- 
ure, at the right, one - half of it being torn off, 
and disclosing a cavity. Where are the seeds ? 
" Ah ! some rare caterpillar has done this !" I ex- 
claimed, when I first observed the burglary. In 
vain I hunted among the leaves to find him. 
Again and again I found my rifled dandelion, but 
never a sign of the burglar. But one day I sur- 
prised him at his work. It was no caterpillar, 
but a tiny, black bird with a beautiful rosy band 
in his tail, and which proved to be that butterfly 
among the birds, the redstart. I hardly knew 
what he was doing out there among the dande- 
lions, and presumed he was after my mysterious 
