THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 31 



but always on the wing. You vagrant fly, you 

 purblind moth, beware how you come within his 

 range! Observe his attitude, the curious move- 

 ment of his head, his "eye in a fine frenzy roll- 

 ing, glancing from heaven to earth, from earth to 

 heaven. " 



His sight is microscopic and his aim sure. 

 Quick as thought he has seized his victim and is 

 back to his perch. There is no strife, no pursuit, 

 one fell swoop and the matter is ended. That 

 little sparrow, as you will observe, is less skilled. 

 It is the Socialis, and he finds his subsistence prop- 

 erly in various seeds and the larvae of insects, 

 though he occasionally has higher aspirations, and 

 seeks to emulate the pewee, commencing and end- 

 ing his career as a flycatcher by an awkward chase 

 after a beetle or "miller." He is hunting around 

 in the grass now, I suspect, with the desire to in- 

 dulge this favorite whim. There ! the opportu- 

 nity is afforded him. Away goes a little cream- 

 colored meadow-moth in the most tortuous course 

 he is capable of, and away goes Socialis in pursuit. 

 The contest is quite comical, though I dare say it 

 is serious enough to the moth. The chase contin- 

 ues for a few yards, when there is a sudden rush- 

 ing to cover in the grass, then a taking to wing 

 again, when the search has become too close, and 

 the moth has recovered his wind. Socialis chirps 

 angrily, and is determined not to be beaten. Keep- 

 ing, with the slightest effort, upon the heels of the 

 fugitive, he is ever on the point of halting to snap 



