We hope that poor hunted fox escaped in safety to his home, and we are
of the opinion that he had nothing to fear from you. You have given us a
very pleasant sketch of your life. You ought to have bright eyes and
plump rosy cheeks after so much exercise in the fresh air and sunshine.
Did you find the beautiful bitter-sweet, with its clustering berries, on
your autumnal expeditions, and did you bring home great bunches of
golden-rod and aster, as well as of autumn leaves? We always load our
arms with more treasures than we know what to do with when we go to the
woods or the pleasant country lanes at this season. Far back in our
memory are pictures of autumn walks we used to take with our little
companions on Friday afternoons, a kind teacher going with us, and
helping us discover the most charming places. Only those pupils who had
been perfect the whole week were allowed to join these delightful
parties. We learned a good deal about botany in our walks, and our love
for nature grew deep and true.
* * * * *
In reply to the Holly Springs branch of the Natural History Society
I give below a brief synopsis of the katydid.
The katydid is an American grasshopper of a transparent green
color, named from the sound of its note. The song that the katydid
sings is produced by a pair of taborets, one in the overlapping
portion of each wing-cover, and formed by a thin transparent
membrane stretched in a strong frame. The friction of the frames of
the taborets against each other, as the insect opens and shuts its
wings, produces the sound. During the day it hides among the leaves
of the trees and bushes, but at early twilight its notes come forth
from the groves and forests, continuing till dawn of day. These
insects are now comparatively rare in the Atlantic States, though
the writer has heard their noise at night, indicating that they
were not rare in the hills back of Nyack and Verdritge Hook, better
known as Rockland Lake Point, on the Hudson River. In some parts of
the West their incessant noise at night deprives people of their
sleep. From good authority I can state that katydids are found only
in North America. They are called "grasshopper-birds" by the
Indians, who are in the habit of roasting and grinding them into a
flour, from which they make cakes, considered by them as
delicacies. The katydid is interesting in captivity, and if fed on
fruits, will live thus for several weeks. Like other grasshoppers,
after the warm season they rapidly become old, the voice ceases,
and they soon perish.
I would suggest that some of our members learn all they can about
the golden-rod, and send what they find out about it to the
Post-office Box.
President C. H. WILLIAMSON,
293 Eckford St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
* * * * *
Most of you have known what it is to be awakened in the night by the
tolling of fire-bells, or perhaps you have been frightened by hearing
somebody rushing past the door shouting "Fire! fire!" at the top of his
voice. It is always an alarming and thrilling experience, and none of us
ever grow used to it. But if you have read in this number the article
entitled "A Forest Fire," and have looked at the picture of the lonely
dog lingering beside the ruins of his home, you are sure that no fire
you have ever seen was so dreadful as that. Think of the poor birds
scorched, or blown to sea and drowned, and the wild animals so terrified
that for the time they grew tame! One little girl of whom we heard was
determined to save her canary-bird, so she took it with her, under some
carpet which her father kept wet while the family crowded close together
beneath its thick folds. The poor pet was dead when they at last were
able to stir from their shelter. Hundreds of children who had
comfortable homes like yours were deprived of them during those dreadful
days of smoke and wind and flame.
We are permitted to make some quotations from a private letter written
by a young lady to a friend in Brooklyn: