SEPTEMBER SUNSHINE. 253 



ran off a distance of five or six yards, and commenced 

 rummaging among the leaves, as it had been doing. 

 Possibly they were in search of some particular object. 

 It certainly appeared so ; but, whatever they were at, 

 the one who had been left by its mate presently stopped 

 its search, stood upon its hind-feet, and gave a shrill, 

 bird-like call, which was plainly audible for a rod or 

 more. The mouse that was called to straightway stood 

 up, as the other had done, replied by uttering the same 

 sound, and then hurriedly rejoined its mate. Of all 

 our mammals, probably the moles are nearest to being 

 mute, yet they, too, can utter a faint squeak, but I sup- 

 pose seldom do so voluntarily ; perhaps only when 

 roughly handled by man or dog. 



He who doubts that fish have some intelligence, and 

 perhaps a language, should have been with me to-day. 

 I passed over one of the bubbling bottom-springs in Po- 

 aetquissings,and lingered long to watch the great number 

 of fishes that had congregated in the clear, cool waters. 

 There, for a space of some five yards square, there was 

 nothing in the water save the fishes ; but all about them 

 was a dense wall of water-milfoil and other aquatic plants. 

 The fish were accustomed to the boat, and moved to and 

 fro leisurely, from side to side of the weedless space, or 

 were stationary. Suddenly a large roach dashed into 

 the midst of them, and instantly every fish was still as a 

 stone. The roach hesitated but for a moment and was 

 gone, and with it vanished every fish in that open space. 

 The others, somehow, learned of danger from this 

 roach ; and, as it proved, none too soon, for no sooner 



