The range of the Nighthawk is quite 

 extensive as it extends from the south- 

 ern portion of the British Possessions, 

 southward through the United States 

 east of the Great Plains, and through 

 tropical America to the Argentine Re- 

 public. Throughout its range it is 

 known by several common names, some 

 of which are Nightjar, Mosquito Hawk, 

 Bull-bat and Pisk. They breed through- 



out the eastern United States but build 

 no nest, the eggs being laid in more or 

 less sheltered places upon the b'are 

 ground in fields, upon rocks, or occa- 

 sionally upon the flat roofs of buildings 

 in the country or in cities. But two 

 eggs are laid and, as these are so col- 

 ored as to closely match the general 

 colors of the ground, they are very dif- 

 ficult to find. 



AN AUNT JANE STORY. 



MOTHS. 



The children had been invited to a 

 party where they were to have games 

 and refreshments. Early in the after- 

 noon it rained, and made the road too 

 muddy for the drive. The children 

 were so much disappointed that they 

 seemed inconsolable. "Never mind," 

 said Aunt Jane. 'Tt is clearing off, and 

 in spite of the mud, I think we shall be 

 able to entertain company at home." 



"If we cannot go, I do not see how 

 any one can come," pouted Bird. "Have 

 you invited anybody?" 



"My visitors have such an easy way 

 of getting about that, although they do 

 not like dampness, I think a few will 

 come," responded Aunt Jane. "I have 

 not invited them yet, but I will do so at 

 once, as it is dark and we are to be at 

 home." 



She lighted a large lamp, took the 

 screens out of the windows, and told 

 the children to sit down around the 

 table, as a visitor might now be ex- 

 pected at any time. The children 

 looked their astonishment, but in a mo- 

 ment Howard cried: 



"I see! I see! Here they come — a 

 whole bevy of Moths — flutter, flutter, 

 flutter!" 



"Get the magnifying glass; be quick! 

 One of our visitors has fainted; she 

 found our lamp too warm. I must see 

 the color of her dress," said Edith. "Do 

 look, all of you," she continued; "this 

 lady has the most exquisite pale smoke 

 colored gauze dress dashed with lines of 

 gold." 



"Her gown is rather too artistic for 

 such a plain entertainment as ours," 

 said Aunt Jane, taking a peep; "it is 

 fine enough for a fancy ball." 



"Look!" cried Alice. "Another one 

 has stopped dancing about the lamp, 

 and lies in state upon the table. He is 

 yellow, black and crimson, under the 

 glass, though his dress looked plain 

 enough when he came in at the win- 

 dow. Do Moths usually dress in such 

 bright colors?" 



'Some of them do. The great In- 

 dian Moth, that Longfellow sings about 

 in 'Hiawatha,' is a large black one with 

 handsome scarlet wings — and — " 



"Who would have dreamed," inter- 

 rupted Edith, "that the wings of Moths 

 have such lovely colors and delicate 

 patterns; here is one pale pink and 

 there is one in dainty yellow. Moths 

 seem to be night butterflies. How did 

 you happen to think of introducing us 

 to such entertaining company?" 



"The thought grew out of my own 

 interest in Moths. I have been studying 

 the pretty creatures for some time, and 

 I begin to consider them the most in- 

 teresting of all my evening callers." 



"Do you ever return their calls?" 

 queried John. 



"Indeed I do. Only last night I went 

 out to the primrose hedge to visit the 

 Humming-bird Moth. The finest speci- 

 mens of the moth family do not come 

 into the house. Just as the evening 

 primrose began to unfurl its yellow 



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