Music of the Wild 



to astonishing size, and hiss, with mouths wide 

 open. So the ever-discerning French call them 

 "flying toads," to commemorate the performance. 



I can not change the subject after this without 

 saying for these birds that they are beautiful, in 

 rich colors of blended black, gray, creamy white, 

 several shades of brown, and the red that scientists 

 designate "rufous;" combinations that render them 

 especial colorative protection among the grasses, 

 leaves, and on the earth or rocks upon which they 

 nest. In monetary value they are almost priceless. 

 They do not destroy anything of use to man, while 

 they gather millions of grasshoppers that are cut- 

 ting crops, and sift the air tirelessly for insect 

 pests. On wing the white bands of the quills form 

 a half-moon that distinguishes them from the whip- 

 poor-will, for which they are often mistaken. 



When night envelopes the forest there travel 

 its dusky aisles and dark mazes three creatures of 

 silent soundless wing: great, exquisitely colored night 

 Wings mo ths, ow j Sj and Da t s . The moths are mostly con- 

 fined to the months of May and June. Few peo- 

 ple see and none ever hear them. Matured in a 

 cocoon spun by a big caterpillar, performing all 

 the functions of their lives under cover of the dark- 

 ness of night, and spending their few days in the 

 darkest places possible, never moving in the light 

 except when disturbed, one would imagine they 

 would be dark-gray, brown, and black in coloring. 

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