62 ORGANS OF VOICE. 



escape observation, by lurking behind a tree, or stealing 

 behind a hedge-bank. A person familiar with the notes of 

 birds has no difficulty whatever in distinguishing between 

 the sounds of pleasure and alarm. If he hears the Swal- 

 lows screaming in a certain note, he is as well aware that cats 

 or Hawks are about, as if they could tell him so in common 

 language. We once happened to hear a loud outcry amongst 

 a parcel of Sparrows, Tomtits, and Chaffinches ; the noise 

 was evidently not their usual note of pleasure, neither was it 

 the clamorous scream they utter when fighting. The bustle 

 occurred within a yard of our window, too near for a Hawk 

 to venture ; neither was there a cat within sight, nothing 

 of the sort ; but still the din increased, and the bush shook 

 again with flutterings of wings and clacking of tongues; 

 when, at last, we espied a pair of inquisitive eyes, and 

 a little sharp snout poked out from the twigs, at the bottom 

 of the bush. It was a weasel, which on seeing that it was 

 discovered, took to its heels ; and in an instant the cries of 

 the Sparrows ceased, and the whole party dispersed. 



It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader of the lan- 

 guage so well known in the poultry-yard. The cluck of the 

 Hen, when she calls her chickens together ; her shriek, if a 

 Hawk is seen flying over the brood, and the rapid rush of 

 chickens under her wings ; and her cackle of pride or 

 pleasure, when she announces to the whole farm-yard the 

 important fact of her having laid an egg. Even a young 

 chicken has a power of language easily understood. Take, 

 for instance, one of four or five days old, and hold it up to a 

 window where there are flies, and it will immediately seize 

 them, with a little twittering note o pleasure ; but if a wasp 

 or bee is placed before it, at once its note becomes harsh, 

 expressing its dislike as well as fears. 



Nobody can doubt, who sees a bird singing, clapping its 

 little wings, turning from side to side, and glancing its 

 bright eyes in all directions, as if courting attention and 

 admiration, that it feels delight and satisfaction. Did we 

 require further proof, we have but to recollect that the song- 

 bird is most on the alert with the music of his voice when 



