THE NIGHT SIDE OF NATURE 85 

 II 



NIGHT SOUNDS 



A TIME of absolute quiet can never be observed in the 

 country. It matters not as to time and season; 

 there seems to be no general period of repose. There 

 is always something abroad, some creature of the 

 fields and woods which by its voice or movements 

 is betrayed. Just as in an old rambling house there 

 are always strange noises that cannot be accounted 

 for, so in the bypaths of nature there are innumerable 

 sounds which can never be localised. To those, 

 however, who pursue night avocations in the country 

 gamekeepers, poachers, and others there are 

 always calls and cries which bespeak life as animate 

 under the night as that of the day. This is attribut- 

 able to various animals and birds, to the night- 

 flying insects, and even to fish. 



Standing in one of the rides of a woodland glade 

 just as day is departing, one is pierced, thrilled, by 

 a perfect storm of song. This loud swelling volume 

 of sound softens as the darkness deepens, and then 

 only the polyglot wood-thrush is heard. The stem 

 of the silver birch has ceased to vibrate to the black- 

 bird's whistle, and as darkness comes so a new set 

 of sounds take possession of the night. 



Coming from out the woods the short sharp bark 



