OF WILD ANIMALS 39 



chatters, usually to scold some one whom he hates, but other 

 small rodents know that silence is golden. 



The birds have the best voices of all creatures. They are 

 the sweet singers of the animal world, and to the inquiring 

 mind that field is a wonderland. 



The frogs are vociferous; and now if they were more silent 

 they would last longer. 



Of all the reptiles known to me, only two utter vocal 

 sounds, — the alligator and the elephant tortoise. The former 

 roars or bellows, the latter grunts. 



