110 CRIES OF NIGHT-ROAMERS. CHAP. vn. 



The Badger utters a kind of snarling grunt. This 

 is done in quick succession. Then he is silent for a 

 short time, and again he begins in the same strain. 

 The Otter, and most of the other night-roamers, have 

 a sort of squeak, which they utter occasionally. But 

 though there is a difference between them, which 

 Edward could distinguish, it is very difficult to de- 

 scribe it in words. Their screams, however, differ 

 widely from their ordinary call. The scream is the 

 result of alarm or pain, perhaps of a sudden wound ; 

 the call is their nightly greeting when they hold 

 friendly converse with each other ; but the difference 

 in the screams can only be learnt by the ear, and can 

 scarcely be described by words. 



The Field Mice the " wee timorous beasties " of 

 Burns besides their squeaking, lilt a low and not 

 unmusical ditty for hours together. Edward often 

 heard them about him, sometimes quite near him, 

 sometimes beneath his head. He occasionally tried 

 to clutch them, but on opening his hand he found 

 it filled with grass, moss, or leaves. The result of 

 his observations was, that several, if not the whole of 

 the mouse race, are possessed, more or less, of the 

 gift of singing. 



The otter, polecat, stoat, and weasel, have a knack 

 of blowing or hizzing when suddenly come upon, or 

 when placed at bay. The three latter stand up on 

 their hind feet in a menacing attitude. Sometimes 

 they suddenly dart forward and give battle when 



