This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ... he could towards them, and forcibly striking the turf every second or third step, with the padded stick. It was made by the goatsuckers; for first one, and then the other, eight or ten yards behind the first, came flying steadily A STRANGE NOTE OR NOISE. 279 along the lane, very near the ground, until they came close ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ... he could towards them, and forcibly striking the turf every second or third step, with the padded stick. It was made by the goatsuckers; for first one, and then the other, eight or ten yards behind the first, came flying steadily A STRANGE NOTE OR NOISE. 279 along the lane, very near the ground, until they came close to their observers, when they quickly swerved aside--rising to clear the low hedge of the lane--and then continued their flight, without the noise, in nearly the same direction as before; and, two minutes after, commenced churring again round some other tall trees across a single field from the lane. The strange noise, its rapid approach, the ghostlike, noiseless flight of the birds, all concurred to excite Jack's imagination, and to make the little girl feel something like a cold shiver. Bob, however, was already plying Mr. Benson with questions. "Do they often make that noise, sir?" "Well, Bob, I hardly know what to say. I'm not such a keen watcher of animals and their habits as you. But I have heard it before; though not often." "How do they make it, sir?" "Well, there I confess you puzzle me quite." "I thought it must be with their wings;--perhaps striking them against the ground." "I really do not know, Nephew Bob. Don't you think that would rather damage their wings? Because they must have used some force to produce that sound." "Well, uncle, but the pigeons, called 'smiters, ' I think, what a noise they make with their wings, striking them against one another. And what claps ringdoves--yes, and tame pigeons, too--constantly make with their wings. It might be made with the goat-sucker's wings; at least I think so. Though to be sure, as it came nearer to us it sounded as if i...
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