224 NATURE'S STORY OF' THE YEAR 



appearances of decay ; and when at last he sings, 

 the notes are like trickling tears of sound ; as 

 though in singing he wept for the departing 

 summer. 



Although the birds are now less obtrusive than 

 at earlier seasons of the year, the autumnal insects 

 afford enjoyment to a rambler in the countryside. 

 Vanessa butterflies fan gorgeous wings on the 

 bloomheads of the agrimony, or soar on the drowsy 

 air to the tree-tops. The dragon-fly glides through 

 the glades, always hunting gnat and midge. But 

 many of the smaller butterflies have lost their 

 brilliancy ; their holiday garments are fretted 

 and torn ; their sports are over ; and their 

 sole purpose is to provide for the continuation 

 of their species. The female insects, guided by 

 a sure and wonderful instinct, lay eggs on the 

 plants which will afford sustenance to the future 

 caterpillars, and which are often quite different 

 from those which supplied the butterflies with 

 food. 



But day by day, as sunshine wanes, insects of all 

 kinds become less apparent ; consequently the 

 birds preying on them must either migrate or 



