Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

insects they are to be sure!  They made a great fuss as they came up into the air, buzzing and fussing at a great rate. Free of the grass they would fly up with a metallic buzzing sound, alighting usually in the lower branch of a tree, whence after a brief rest, they’d fly off thru the air out of sight. For an hour or more they continued coming. Presently whip poor-wills began to call. They were the first I had ever heard and I must say I was surprised.  I had always thought that their call “Whip poor-will” was a mournful one, and only repeated at long effective intervals during the night. But this rapid continuous call - how different!  Not that I didn’t like it - it had a certain uncanniness and mystery about it that is (fighting?) to night in the woods. Presently the moon came up end added mystery to the woods and fields. Fire-flies came forth end began floating lazily around. And indeed this was the best part for me - the mystery