OF THE OLD WOKLD. 29o 



tlirongli the twilight; whilst multitudes of bats flit 

 about in all directions in search of the insects on 

 ■which they feed. 



As the sun sets, moths of all kinds issue from 

 their retreats, and mosquitoes are constantly heard 

 buzzing about, increasing in the audacity of their 

 attacks as the night wears on. The shrill voices of 

 innumerable crickets, the croaking of frogs, and the 

 continual hum of other insects, keep up a perpetual 

 serenade long after darkness has covered the earth. 

 Then is heard the whooping of the great rock-mon- 

 keys, the bark of the elk, the mournful howling of 

 the hyena, the unearthly shrieking of jackals, the 

 trumpeting of elephants as they crash through 

 the underwood ; at intervals the distant roar of 

 a prowling tiger is re-echoed among the hollow 

 arches of the forest, as he leaves his lair, in its 

 inmost recesses, to search in the plains for prey ; 

 and great horned-owls flit past on muffled wings 

 with strange sepulchral cries, like evil spirits of 

 darkness. 



All these nocturnal animals rel ui'n to their haunts 

 in the deep jungle on the first aj)pearance of dawn, 

 when the jungle-cock sounds the "rt^veille," and 

 pea-fowl are heard in all directions calling to their 

 mates. Herds of bison and deer retire slowly from 

 the open glades where they have ^iustured during the 

 night, and again seek the shade of the thick cover. 

 As hght increases, the notes of the earliest of the 

 feathered songsters are heard ; and herons, cranes. 



