20 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



the first time I knew whence the inspiration, 

 and felt the full force and realism of Words- 

 worth's exclamation, " God ! the very houses 

 seem asleep." Than this I could detect no 

 definite sound — only that vague and distant 

 hum which for ever haunts and hangs over 

 a great city. 



Such a time of quiet can never be observed 

 in the country. It matters not as to time or 

 season ; there seems no absolute and general 

 period of repose. There is always something 

 abroad, some creature of the field or wood, 

 which by its voice or movements is betrayed. 

 And, just as in an old, rambling house, there 

 are always strange noises that cannot be ac- 

 counted for, so in the by-paths of nature 

 there are innumerable sounds which can never 

 be localized. To those, however, who pursue 

 night avocations in the country — game- 

 keepers, poachers, etc.— there are always calls 

 and cries which bespeak life as animate under 

 the night as that of the day. This is attri- 

 butable to various animals and birds, to beetles 

 and night-flying insects, and even to fish. 

 Let us track some of these sounds to their 

 source. 



