i68 THE BROOK BOOK 



the season, but its pace is more leisurely even than 

 that of the famed tortoise. 



Our other chosen symbol is less shy than the 

 walking fern. A big walking stick once signified 

 his wish to be of our party by dropping from a 

 tree to the shoulder of the Philosopher one Sep- 

 tember day. There he remained undisturbed until 

 discovered by one of the party. The likeness of 

 this creature to a twig must certainly have saved 

 his life many a time. We put him down among 

 the branches of a fallen tree and lost him almost 

 immediately. He had only to "freeze" and he was 

 quite safe. The Philosopher was slim himself, 

 and confessed his sympathy with the creature, 

 which evidently had more legs and arms than it 

 knew how to handle. 



Earlier in the season Sister Ellen had found 

 one in the act of shedding its skin. It was a 

 young one, only about half-grown, and exactly the 

 color of the leaves. As these creatures grow, they 

 literally change their green coats for brownish 

 ones, more nearly matching the colors of branches. 

 The green skin comes oflf in one piece, and the 

 brown one is revealed already fitted on the body 

 of the wearer. A favorite attitude for them is to 

 lie outstretched against a twig, with the extremely 

 long, slender antennae and fore legs held straight 

 out in front. When disturbed they amble off with 

 awkward steps. 



The Professor told us of the walking-stick's 

 tropical relatives which, when full-grown, bear the 



