Another interesting fact, and one which is known to few of us, but which may readily be seen, if we take time to study the dewdrop minutely is; that each tiny drop of dew is in itself a miniature mirror, for upon its clear, crystal-like surface it holds and faithfully portrays upon its rounded form the image of any near-by object. The picture is, of course, naturally inverted. But you will find it; a bit of blue sky holding a scrap of fleecy cloud, or a pigmy forest of trees caught and mirrored in the dewdrop. Often sleeping and dormant insects when caught out in the open during the night, receive a copious deposit of dew. The caterpillar shown in the photograph was a good subject, and quite a collection of dew was deposited upon his furry coat. [Illustration: 23. A Winter type of hoar frost] [Illustration: 24. Columnar hoar frost upon a decaying log] [Illustration: 25. Striking arrangement of hoar-frost crystals upon broken edge of ice, water showing beneath] Nature in all her moods, and they are many, is always entertaining and instructive, and perhaps one of her greatest marvels is that which takes place in the silence of the brooding night—the falling of the gentle dew. [Illustration: 26. Showing hoar-frost elaboration about the edge of a leaf] [Illustration: 27. Hoar-frost deposit upon grass blades] THE COMING OF THE HOAR FROST [Illustration: 28. Moss-like hoar frost deposited upon surface of pond] [Illustration: 29. Columnar hoar frost scattered over brook ice] CHAPTER II THE COMING OF THE HOAR FROST “Rustily creak the crickets; Jack Frost came down last night— He came on the wings of a star beam, Cool and sparkling and bright; He sought in the grass for the crickets With delicate icy spear, So sharp and so fine and so fatal, And he stabbed them far and near. Pray what have you done to the flowers? Where hides the wood aster? She vanished as snow wreathes dissolve in the sun The moment you touched her.” —Thaxter.