The Chorus of the Forest 



I think most of the tints of the rainbow are repre- 

 sented among them. Some are jjalest bhie-green, 

 decorated A\ith straw color and hi\'ender; otliers 

 are cowshp-yellow, Mith touches of maroon; some 

 are tan, Avith pink markings, and cithers terra cotta, 

 with canary-colored spots and gray lines. Some 

 are gray, A\ith terra cotta half-moons; others are 

 wine-red, A\ith tan; all are of beautiful basic color, 

 speckled, dotted, lined, striped, and spotted with 

 bright harmonizing or contrasting designs on their 

 wings of softest Aehet down. Some have trans- 

 jjarent ovals so clear that fine ])rint can be read 

 through them, set in their wings, and most moths 

 are large as the average A\arl)ler. They sweep so 

 close that your face is sensitive to the disturbance 

 of air in tlieir passing, but you jiear no sound. 

 Their flight is soft and perfectly noiseless. 



The owl can afford to l)e of silent '\\'ing, it so 

 dominates the night Avith its voice. It Avould give 

 me great satisfaction if I had some way of kno\\'- 

 ing surely whether other birds slee]) serenely diu'- 

 ing its A'chement serenade either to the moon or to 

 a coveted mate, or whether they are awake and 

 shuddering Avith fear. 



I know how the heart of a frightened bird leaps 

 and throbs in its small breast, and I would be glad 

 to learn that they sleep soimdly, but I doubt it. 

 They are awake and fluttering through tlie dark- 

 ness at such slight disturbance of other nature. 



11.5 



