APPENDIX. 343 



But October is late for so tender a bird ; the latest day in which I 

 have observed it in Nova Scotia, was the 28th September. 



Another mysterious sound which many of the Indian hunters con- 

 nect with superstition, and attribute to spirits of the Orpheonistic 

 description, is that curious, rushing sound of music — an indescribable 

 melodious rustling in the calm atmosphere of a still October night, 

 with which the ear of the moose-hunter becomes so* well acquainted. 

 Most probably the cause exists in the tension of the nerves of that 

 organ. 



The fierce yell of the lucifee, and the short sharp bark of the fox, 

 are often heard in wild parts of the country : they are both in 

 pursuit of the unfortunate hare, which falls a frequent prey to so 

 many of the carnivorae and raptores. I once heard the startling cry 

 of the former close to my head, whilst reposing in the open, after a 

 night's moose-calling away from camp. Its bounds upon its prey, 

 having stealthily crept to within sight, are prodigious : I have mea- 

 sured them as over twenty feet in the snow. 



I have always noticed that in the small hours of the morning there 

 appears to be a general cessation of movement of every living crea- 

 ture in the woods. Often as I have strolled from camp into the 

 moonlight at this time, I never could detect the slightest sound — 

 even the owls seemed to have retired. The approach of dawn, how- 

 ever, seems to call forth fresh exertions of the nocturnal animals in 

 quest of food, and all the cries and calls are renewed — continuing till 

 the first signs of Aurora send the owls flitting back into the thick 

 tops of the spruces, and call forth the busy squirrels and small 

 birds to their daily occupation. 



Once, and only once, did I hear the little red squirrel utter his 

 wrathful chirrup at night — a bad sign, say the Indians ; they firmly 

 believe that it prognosticates the death of one of their friends. 

 Neither does the chip-munk or striped ground squirrel come out at 

 night ; the only member of the family of nocturnal habits is the 

 flying squirrel, a rare but most beautiful little creature. Lying in 

 an open camp, I once saw its form sail in a curved line from tree to 

 tree in the moonlight. 



Of night songsters amongst our small birds we have few examples. 

 The whip-poor-will is our only systematic nightingale, if we may 

 call him so. Arriving in June, and choosing the pleasantest retreat, 

 in copses, by picturesque intervales, and generally preferring the 

 neighbourhood of man, the plaintive song of this bird is strongly 

 associated with the charms of a summer's evening in the country. 



