Redfuff 



that strawberries, though not really insects, were 

 almost as delicious ; they knew that the huge 

 danaid butterflies were good, safe 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, that 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 sec- 

 ond-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 mis- 

 trust. 



After a fortnight the little ones began to 

 droop and she herself did not feel very well. 

 They were always hungry, and though they ate 



316 



