2i8 UPON A DAY 



respiration? The water-beetle is a strong-swimming 

 creature, and needs a large amount of air for oxidation 

 of its blood. The beetles possess, in connection with 

 their trachaeal system, a series of air-cells analogous to 

 the air-spaces of birds ; until these are filled they are 

 unable to rise, and they are filled by the motion of the 

 wings. May it not be that Dyticus retains this 

 collected air in these trachaeal dilatations, as in 

 reservoirs, as residual food for his tissues during 

 the day? 



What hoarse, ill-omened scream was that ? It is as 

 if some old chiding witch were passing on her broom- 

 stick through the trees. 



A white owl is going back to its hollow in the 

 sycamore. How dreamily soft is its flight ! The 

 whooping of a pigeon's or a peewit's wings would be 

 plainly heard at that distance. But this bird sails 

 noiselessly and soft, as down or feathers wafted on 

 space. He is one of the few owls that call habitually |^ 

 when on the wing. His cousin, the tawny owl, for' 

 example, rarely utters his beautiful hoot excepting 

 when at rest. Do you notice that this bird is carrying' 

 something in its talons ? One cannot see at this dis- 

 tance what it is, but the tent-dweller could tell us it 

 is a field-mouse, and that it is the last of many that the 



