ii8 ON SURREY HILLS. 



sight. It is the head of an otter passing up-stream. 

 Only the head is visible, but there is no mistaking 

 him, for the next moment his strange whistling cry 

 is heard. 



In the air overhead is the sound of quickly moving 

 wings passing and repassing, and strange notes fall 

 on the ear, the cries of birds that are coming to 

 those that have gone over before them. I have often 

 listened to this : there seems at times to be great 

 indecision amongst birds that travel by night. One 

 part of the company the leading one will waver 

 in flight, and pass to and fro several times, sounding 

 their call-notes, then go off in a direct course in 

 perfect stillness. After a minute or so you will hear 

 others with the same call-notes, moving hither and 

 thither in all directions for some time before they 

 go off for good. They are probably uncertain and 

 baffled now and then in their course ; or the hind- 

 most company may be young birds making the 

 migrating passage for the first time. 



I have spent many an hour about that lonely spot, 

 listening to the voices of the night, and learning some 

 of its secrets ; but I confess to feeling some relief 

 when I was on my way home again. It is very, very 



