CHAPTER XIII 



PRODUCTION OF SOUNDS BY CREATURES IN 

 THE ANIMAL WORLD 



In pursuit of his study the naturalist relies 

 equally on his sense of hearing as on that of 

 sight, indeed more so, for the innumerable 

 sounds of nature are borne in upon his ear 

 from near and afar, and, whereas a man sees 

 only in front of him, he is capable of hearing 

 in all directions. Thus it is often a sound 

 which first attracts his attention ; either the 

 direct utterance of some creature or sound 

 produced by its movements. 



Training and cultivation of the auditory 

 sense is of the utmost importance ; therefore, 

 the true naturalist makes it his first endeavour 

 to familiarize himself to all kinds of sound until 

 the practice becomes an acute subconscious 

 faculty ; he is then in a position to know a 

 great deal of what is taking place around him, 

 and of the kind of life that exists in his vicinity. 



Few creatures in the Animal World are 

 absolutely mute, though it may be that we 



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