BIRDS AND ALL NATURE. ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. VOL. IV. OCTOBER, 1898. NO. 4. CONTENTS Page EARS 121 THE KINGBIRD OF PARADISE. 124 THE PECCARY. 128 AUTUMN. 132 THE BOTTLE-NOSE DOLPHIN. 135 NEW CHAMPION FOR THE SPARROW. 135 THE VOICE OF NATURE. 136 IN THE ANIMAL WORLD. 136 THE TUFTED PUFFIN. 139 "THE TALK OF ANIMALS." 140 THE BUTTERFLY. 142 THE ARMADILLO. 146 NATURE'S GROTESQUE. 149 THE RED-HEAD DUCK. 150 BIRDS IN GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 153 GOLDENROD. 154 OCTOBER. 157 FROM "CONSTANTINOPLE." 158 ANIMALS AND MUSIC. 159 SUMMARY. 160 EARS. BY W. E. WATT. The air is an elastic fluid surrounding the earth. The motions of things whether alive or not, set it in a state of vibration that rarely ceases. At all times and in all places it is pulsing responsively to all that is going on. Animals are interested in what is moving about them. It may mean life or death, pleasure or agony, and most animals are keen to know which is for them at any given period. They are therefore equipped with organs that respond to these waves of the air. They are variously equipped, some hearing certain sounds feebly where others are acute to them and deeply moved. Some sounds are full of moment to one organism arousing it to nervous activity while another organism knows nothing of what is so distinctly heard by the first. Can a Mule hear more than a Mouse is a question which has agitated many young people who have considered the length of the former's ear and its versatility. A series of experiments once conducted in youthful sport by the writer, seemed to settle the matter that each can hear sounds which are unnoticed by the other, and that the ear of the Mouse is much better adapted in hearing powers to the occupation of the Mouse than is that of his long eared neighbor. Certain shrill sounds of whatever degree of loudness, cannot be heard by the Mule even when oats might be secured by attending to them, while distant sounds of a heavy character seem to fail to affect the ear of the Mouse.