94 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



so soon as it would be aware of yours : so that the bird 

 would have a decided advantage over you. Accident may 

 throw light on this, as it has done on many other subjects. 



C. There is another sound, which I have not heard be- 

 fore : as if a score of persons were whistling together : it is 

 not so far off as the saw-whetter, for it evidently comes from 

 this field, and but a few yards distant. 



F. Many are engaged in the concert ; but if you listen 

 attentively, you will perceive that each whistles three short 

 and quick notes, two alike, and the third much higher in 

 tone. There is not much doubt about the origin of this. It 

 proceeds from some of the Reptilia ; it is usually called the 

 Piping Frog, but I believe it in reality a small lizard/ Like 

 the saw-whetter, it reserves its music to enliven the night 

 season, and makes up in pertinacity what it wants in melody. 

 This field is wet and marshy, in which situations alone this 

 reptile delights. I think it likely that the lizard is beneath 

 the surface of the ground, at the time of making this piping 

 noise ; at least, sometimes, if not always : for once I heard 

 many of them in my own field before it was dark, and being 

 quite near, I looked, but could see nothing : presently the 

 tune struck up from the ground a yard or two from me. I 

 went cautiously to the spot, and found that it had evidently 

 proceeded from a small hole in the earth, but no musician 

 was visible. If I had had a spade, I might have brought him 

 forth to daylight, or rather to twilight, to receive the applause 

 due to his musical powers. But here we are, once more at 

 home. 



