Music of the Wild 



to astonishing size, and hiss, with mouths wide 

 ojjen. So the ever-discerning French call them 

 "tiying toads," to commemorate the performance. 



I can not change the subject after this without 

 saj^ing for these birds that they are beautiful, in 

 rich colors of blended black, gray, creamy white, 

 several shades of brown, and the red that scientists 

 designate "rufous;" combinations that render them 

 especial colorative jjrotection among the grasses, 

 leaves, and on the earth or rocks upon which they 

 nest. In monetarj' value they are almost priceless. 

 They do not destroy anj'thing of use to man, while 

 they gather millions of grasshoppers that are cut- 

 ting crojis, and sift the air tirelessly for insect 

 pests. On wing the white bands of the quills form 

 a half-moon that distinguishes them from the whip- 

 poor-will, for M'hich they are often mistaken. 



When night envelojjes the forest there travel 

 its dusky aisles and dark mazes three creatures of 

 Silent soundless wing: great, exquisitely colored night 

 Wings j^^o^-jjg^ owls, and bats. The moths are mostly con- 

 fined to the months of jSIay and June. Few peo- 

 l^le see and none ever hear them. JNIatured in a 

 cocoon si)un by a big caterpillar, performing all 

 the functions of their lives inider cover of the dark- 

 ness of night, and si)ending their few days in the 

 darkest places possible, never moving in the light 

 except when disturbed, one would imagine they 

 would be dark-gray, brown, and black in coloring. 



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