54 EFFECT OF NOCTURNAL SOUNDS. 



was dragged away to a considerable distance by a 

 bear, who had further scooped out a hollow in the 

 earth, where he deposited his prey. 



The northern forests in which these animals 

 abound, are the favourite haunts of the Yirginian 

 Horned Owl, whose loud and full nocturnal cry is 

 heard in unison with the howling of the wind, and 

 when sounding from out the gloomy recesses of the 

 forest, bears some resemblance to the human voice, 

 uttered under feelings of extreme distress. A 

 party of Scotch highlanders in the service of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company still remember the painful 

 effect which this strange sound produced on their 

 minds. They had encamped after nightfall, during 

 a winter journey, in a dense clump of trees, whose 

 dark boughs and lofty stems, the growth of ages, gave 

 a peculiar solemnity to the scene. Near them was 

 a tomb, which stood cold and prominent near the 

 flickering flame of their watch-fire, and which some 

 Indians had erected in this solitary spot. Having 

 finished their repast, and trimmed their fire for the 

 night, they prepared for repose, when suddenly the 

 slow and dismal notes of the horned owl fell on 

 the ear with a startling nearness. Accustomed 

 from infancy to believe the wild and romantic legends 

 of their country, they at once concluded that the 

 strange sepulchral voice must be the moaning of 

 the spirit whose rest they superstitiously fancied 

 they had disturbed ; and though years have passed 

 since that night, many of the company still shudder 

 when they speak of the hours which they spent in 

 that ill-omened spot*. 



* Fauna Borealis Americana. 



