The Washington herald., 1913-05-18
THE HIDERS.
Continued from page 81

"Oh, several names in Latinl Those
professors who write books about moths
can never agree upon one name for any.
thing; but my American name is Under
wing. Pm the Crimson Under wing;
then, my cousins are the Orange Under
wings the Pink Under-wings and the
White Under-wings - beauties, all of
them; and, like me, all tree-moths, haunt
ing woods and thickets. We're really a
lovely family. Do you want to see my
cousins?"
81 should love to- said Geraldine softly.
"Pinky! Pinky! Whitley! Whiteyw
called the crimson Under-wing, open
your wings for Geraldiner'
On the trunk OF dappled beech-tree
fash of rose glimmered.
'Oh, you beautiful creature" exclaimed
Geraldine, breathlessly, as an exquisite
moth, all pink and silvery gray, aighted
near the Crimson Under-wing.
"Lcok at me! Look at me!' came an
impatient voice from the trunk OF the
white birch-tree.
The children turned; part of the gray
and white bark seemed to move and de-
tach itself from the trunk, and beautiful
frosty white-and-gray moth stood re-
vealed, trembling with pride. At the same
moment on the trunk OF an oak an orange
streak appeared, and another moth, fore
wings brown and gray, hind wings glow
ing with vivid orange bars, rose stretch
ing its slender legs.
For a minute the children stared en-
chanted, then of sudden little voice
cried: Birds! Hide" And in the twink
ling of an eye every moth had disap-
peared; every lovely spot of orange GRIM
son, silver and pink had vanished against
the mottled tree trunks.
IT'S like fairy-land,' whispered Peter.
flush! See that birdl'
A gray-and-white bird, lowering on the
woods edge, alighted on a limb and
peered at the children.
Il thought said the bird carelessly
that saw a moth or two in this vicin-
ity. How about it, Geradine?'
why don't you eat crumbs and behave
yourself?" said Geraldine, reproachfuy
Crumbs Crumbs" repeated the bird
Pooh! You've been reading silly books
about children feeding wild birds on crumbs
don't eat crumbs! eat insects, thank
you. Did you, or didn't you see an appe-
tizing pink Under-wing moth around here?
Il won't tell you,' said Geraldine.
won't tell met" repeated the bird, as
tOnlSned. men MS crest rose III Wrdth, anu
he emitted squeaky, harsh note of anger
DO you know who | am? | am a King
bird, and | spend my entire life in eating
and fighting. I'm cranky and short-tempered
and irritable. ] can whip hawk or a crow,
and-perhaps-eve an indoor child. So you'd
better be polite"
At that, high in the air, harsh laugh
rang out and great, lazy broad-winged
- hrtuh
mocking eyes.
Are you laughing at me- you impudent
buzzard?" demanded the enraged King-bird
"Yes, | am! Yes, ami" squeaked the in
truder, hanging in the air with rapidly
Tapping wings.
'Ill fix you!" screamed the King-bird
darting upward The hawk, tipping to the
right avoided the rush, but the furious King
bird flew at him again, and the hawk, jeerng
harshly, lodged, continuing to rise above the
tops of the talest pines. The next moment
the King-bird struck; the hawk sheered
southwark in one broad, whistling sweep
squealing angrly for the vicious little King
bird had tweaked its ta-feathers.
That's the way; that's always their way,
whispered the Pine-tree. That old red
tailed buzzard, who calls himself a hawk
comes prying and nosing about until the
King bird loses his temper. Now we're rid
of them both, and you can go back to your
game of hide and seek"