io8 Poachers and Poaching. 



fitful apparition which suddenly vanishes into 

 space. First a large insect with long wings is 

 seen advancing, it comes straight on, then flutters 

 in the air and is gone. Whilst endeavouring to 

 discover the mysterious retreat of the moth, it 

 will suddenly reappear, and even whilst the eye 

 closely follows its flight, will again vanish. This 

 effect is produced by the different colour of the 

 wings on their upper and lower sides. Above 

 they are snowy w y hite, and consequently visible 

 even in the deep twilight ; but on the under side 

 they, as well as the whole body, are of a deep 

 dusky brown so that when that side is suddenly 

 turned towards the spectator it becomes invisible. 

 As the male flies in the night, the white shining 

 upper surface of the wings glitters curiously, almost 

 appearing as if they were giving out their own light. 



Standing in one of the rides of a woodland 

 glade just as day is departing, one is pierced, 

 thrilled by a perfect storm of song. This loud 

 swelling volume of sound softens as the darkness 

 deepens, and then only the polyglot wood-thrush 

 is heard. The stem of the silver birch has ceased 

 to vibrate to the blackbird's whistle, and as dark- 

 ness comes anew set of sounds take possession of 

 the night. But passing down through the mea- 

 dows we have other thoughts than listening 

 to these. 



Another night singer is the blackcap. The 



