THE ANIMALS OF THE FOREST. 105 



tain slope and started as a sheep hidden behind a 

 boulder uttered its prolonged baa, will understand 

 how these strange noises affect us in the forest. 

 But however startling such a sound may be on the 

 mountain, it is much more so here, for not only 

 is there silence, but gloom, and the reverberations 

 are increased by echoes from the myriad tree- 

 trunks. 



At night a continual hum is heard, which how- 

 ever does not enliven the forest. It is like a 

 singing in the ears, rather pleasant than otherwise, 

 and is produced by myriads of insects which fly 

 around after sunset. If you are paddling up 

 a broad river and keep in the middle of the 

 stream, the hum is imperceptible ; but on approach- 

 ing the shore it becomes almost piercing until you 

 become accustomed to it and then it is hardly 

 noticed. Now and again an owl or goatsucker 

 flits past, uttering its weird cry, which is even 

 more startling than that of the red howler. Sud- 

 denly you are startled by the question, ' Who are 

 you ? " or told to " Whip poor Will ! " Then comes 

 that series of wails which Waterton compared to 

 the midnight cry of some murdered victim, waking 

 the sleeper and sending a cold thrill down his back. 



These cries are supplemented or replaced in the 

 early morning by a din above our heads, which at 



