Where Silence Is Eloquent 



should know by feeling (that is, by the reception 

 of a silent message) whether an approaching 

 animal is in a dangerous or a harmless mood is 

 really no more remarkable than that he should 

 know, as he surely does, when it is time for him to 

 migrate or to make ready his winter quarters. 



This amazing sensitiveness, resulting, I think, 

 from the reception of a wordless message, was 

 brought strongly home to me one day as I watched 

 a flock of black mallards, forty or fifty of them, 

 resting in the water-grass within a few yards of my 

 hiding-place. A large hawk had appeared at in- 

 tervals, circling over the marshes and occasionally 

 over the pond ; but, beyond turning an eye upward 

 when he came too near, the ducks apparently paid 

 no attention to him. He was their natural enemy; 

 they had paid toll of their number to satisfy his 

 hunger; but now, though plainly seen, he was no 

 more regarded or feared than a dragon-fly buzzing 

 among the reeds. Presently another hawk ap- 

 peared in the distance, circling above the meadows. 

 As a wider swing brought him over the pond a 

 watchful duck uttered a single low quock! On 

 the instant heads came from under wings; a few 

 ducks shot into the open water for a look; others 

 sprang aloft without looking, and the whole flock 

 was away in a twinkling. I think the hawk did 

 not see or suspect them till they rose in the air, 



[iS7l 



