BIRD PARADISE 141 



his wings as though he were testing his new 

 capacities before he yentured to use them. "With 

 the glass I readily saw that his new suit was 

 ornamented with a variety of colors, though he 

 seemed quite unconscious of the fact. I saw, all 

 about, where the crows had been, and congrat- 

 ulated Mr. Fly on his good fortune of being 

 hatched a little too late for their early visit. I 

 looked about for the fellow's native place, but 

 did not discover it unless a little cavity at the 

 base of a decayed stump was the spot. I saw 

 several other species of flies — all of them accom- 

 panied by a retinue of their fellows, but this one 

 paddled his own canoe without fear or favor of 

 any of his kind. After a brief space of balanc- 

 ing and warming he set the entire machine of his 

 powers in motion. To his evident surprise all 

 went well with him and the last I saw of his 

 retreating form he was well out over the marsh — 

 gaining new confidence with every stroke of his 

 wings. I could but moralize something like this : 

 Here is an exposition older than any man has 

 devised. He who made it all keeps it open and 

 keeps it in order right through the ages. On 

 every side are things and creatures, millions of 

 them, each one a marvel of construction and 

 beauty, in almost every respect. What else is it 



