THE SECRET OF THE BIG TREES. 17 
The frogs, lizards, and bats did not trouble us, and, fortunatety, we 
were free from mosquitoes. There was one creature, however, which 
sometimes seriously interfered with our work. As we lay on our 
stomachs, our left fists resting on the black surface of a stump to prop 
our unshaven chins, and our right hands rapidly touching ring after 
ring with a penknife as we counted our decades—as we lay thus, with 
eyes closely focused at a distance of about 8 inches, frightful forms 
came rushing into the field of vision. They were black and horny, 
with powerful nippers on their heads, and with white hairs on their 
NEAR CAMP SIERRA, SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK. 
