IN THE DUNES 13 



A plodding toad, patiently pursuing its direct 

 course, has traced its footsteps near the head of 

 the sleeper. A skunk, that knight of the night 

 sans peur, on account of his armor of scent, and, 

 in this case, at least, sans reproche, has ambled 

 leisurely by. One may be sure that no fox or 

 deer tracks will be found near, except perhaps 

 on the windward side. The sense of smell in 

 these animals is too keen to permit them to run 

 any risks. 



At the time of the full moon the fascination of 

 the sand dunes is increased to a superlative de- 

 gree. The whiteness of the sand augments the 

 brilliancy of the moonlight, just as is the case 

 when the landscape is white with snow. Such a 

 night was that of September 25 and 26, 1920. 

 It was calm and warm, 68° Farenheit by the 

 cricket thermometer.^ As I wandered alone 

 about the dunes, listening to the voices of the 

 birds passing overhead, and of those on the shore 

 and sea, I was alert for a glimpse of night- 

 wandering animals whose tracks were clearly vis- 

 ible by moonlight. Exposing a photographic 



1 See page 2oi. 



