A SAND QUARRY IN WINTER. 45 



Considering the size of the ruby-tail, it can contract 

 itself in a really wonderful manner. Some little time 

 ago, on a bright day in early spring, I was looking at 

 some rough palings upon a park fence, and was ex- 

 amining the little holes made by the Scolytus and 

 similar beetles. The palings happened to face due 

 south, and as the meridian sun shone on them, a ray 

 penetrated into one of the holes and I discovered some- 

 thing blue within. I proceeded to cut it out very care- 

 fully, and there found a ruby-tail completely doubled 

 up, like a hedgehog, within a hole scarcely large 

 enough to admit a No. 5 shot. In the same row of 

 palings I found plenty more specimens, all alive, and 

 very much perplexed at being so unceremoniously 

 ejected from the resting-place in which they had 

 passed the winter. 



