LITTLE BEASTS OF FIELD AND WOOD 



nibbling away eagerly at what must prove at best 

 very unsubstantial food. Their position among 

 the slender and still leafless branches is one that 

 renders them conspicuous for a considerable dis- 

 tance ; yet few persons seeing them so occupied 

 would recognise them for what they really are, 

 for from that commanding outlook they are 

 quickly aware of the approach of any one, and, 

 instead of attempting to retreat to the larger 

 branches of the tree for safety, remain motionless 

 wherever they may happen to be. I have fre- 

 quently seen several of them scattered about in 

 the same tree top, without mistrusting at first that 

 these inanimate looking objects were really alive; 

 for they have a way of assuming such unnatural and 

 grotesque positions at these times that I really 

 believe they intentionally pose as old birds' nests or 

 the remnant of some last season's caterpillar tent. 

 After a little while, if they fancy they are not 

 especially observed, they will usually return to 

 their repast, swinging themselves from place to 



