ii6 THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



like remark applies to the Shrews; but the Wild 

 Cat (as we all know from acquaintance at night- 

 time with our own feline marauders) can give 

 voice in no uncertain manner, and can mew, wail, 

 and swear in no half-hearted way. 



To hear a Fox bark during the shadowy stillness 

 of the night is well worth listening for, but his 

 carnivorous relatives, the Stoat, Weasel, and 

 Badger, do not appear to be particularly, desirous 

 of uttering any vocal sound worthy of the name. 



The Squirrel, too, mostly keeps his secrets to 

 himself, gay little wood-sprite that he is, whilst 

 the Dormouse, when he is not slumbering, is too 

 busy with family cares to trouble about learning 

 his ABC. Rats and Mice squeal and scamper; 

 the Hare appears solitary in both disposition and 

 voice, but the Rabbit screams loudly when occa- 

 sion demands it, especially when it is pursued by 

 a Stoat, or caught in the clutches of a trap or snare. 

 Many a time I have released from a trap one of 

 these woodland rovers, for the pathetic cry, as of 

 some one in great distress, was more than I could 

 stand during my quiet pilgrimage through a 

 favourite belt of woodland. 



The Deer belong to the mute animals, whilst 

 the Whale, Porpoise, and Dolphin tell their secrets 

 under cover of the ocean's depths, and of their 

 vocal efforts we are woefully ignorant. 



With the exception of the birds — which we next 



