ii8 ON SURREY HILLS. 



sight. It is the head of an otter passing up-stream. 

 Only the head is visible, but there is no mistaking 

 him, for the next moment his strange whistling cry- 

 is heard. 



In the air overhead is the sound of quickly moving 

 wings passing and repassing, and strange notes fall 

 on the ear, — the cries of birds that are coming to 

 those that have gone over before them. I have often 

 listened to this : there seems at times to be great 

 indecision amongst birds that travel by night. One 

 part of the company — the leading one — will waver 

 in flight, and pass to and fro several times, sounding 

 their call-notes, then go off in a direct course in 

 perfect stillness. After a minute or so you will hear 

 others with the same call-notes, moving hither and 

 thither in all directions for some time before they 

 go off for good. They are probably uncertain and 

 baffled now and then in their course ; or the hind- 

 most company may be young birds making the 

 migrating passage for the first time. 



I have spent many an hour about that lonely spot, 

 listening to the voices of the night, and learning some 

 of its secrets ; but I confess to feeling some relief 

 when I was on my way home again. It is very, very 



