Kedruff 4 1 



form of smooth, green worms ; they knew that 

 the dome of an ant-hill rising against the dis- 

 tant woods stood for a garner of plenty ; they 

 knew that strawberries, though not really ir 

 sects, were almost as delicious ; they knew 

 that the huge danaid butterflies were good, 

 sale game, if they could only catch them, and 

 that a slab of bark dropping from the side of 

 a rotten log was sure to abound in good things 

 of many different kinds ; and they had learned, 

 also, the yellow -jackets, mud -wasps, woolly 

 worms, and hundred -leggers were better let 

 alone. 



It was now July, the Moon of Berries. The 

 chicks had grown and flourished amazingly 

 during this last month, and were now so large 

 that in her efforts to cover them the mother 

 was kept standing all night. 



They took their daily dust-bath, but of late 

 had changed to another higher on the hill. It 

 was one in use by many different birds, and at 

 first the mother disliked the idea of such a 

 second-hand bath. But the dust was of such 

 a fine, agreeable quality, and the children led 

 the way with such enthusiasm, that she forgot 

 her mistrust. 



After a fortnight the little ones began to 

 droop and she herself did not feel very well. 



