WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



brought into contact with, they were in my opin- 

 ion correct in their theories. They did not try 

 to convince one ; they simply said they " knowed 

 it, an' that was enuf fur them." 



Men, women, and children could give the calls 

 of any creature, furred or feathered, which they 

 were in the habit of seeing daily, no matter 

 what the cry might be, rage, or fear, or that of 

 gentle warning, or the soft calls of mating-time. 

 "Mother" this was the universal title for all 

 married women who had children very rarely 

 exercised the gift of woodland tongues. They 

 would tell you they had " done it often enough 

 when they was gals, but sich foolishness was 

 done with now." I have heard young women 

 whistle beautifully, mimicking the songs of the 

 birds, the blackbird and thrush particularly. They 

 fashioned simple instruments by the fireside, which 

 were easily carried in the pocket, the whole lot 

 of them, with which they mimicked the calls of 

 the various species. If they wished to see whether 

 a stoat, weasel, crow, or jay was about, they 

 would place their lips on the back of one hand 

 and squeal horribly, the cries becoming weaker 



