Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-21
THE GAZETTE.
,EpYgspAY MORNING, MARCH II, 1850.
THE SINGING FISH OF CEYLON.


On the occasion OF another visit which
made 70 Batticalns,, III September, 1910 !
made some inquiries relative 10 story Which
had heard of musical sounds SAID 10 oe
heard issuing from the bottom OF tne iaae'
at several places, both above ana Deio" .nc
ferry, opposite the old Dutch Fort, aaa winch
the natives suppose % proceed from sonie
fish peculiar to the locality. lne report
was confirmed 70 me in all IFS particulars,
and one Of the spots whence the sounu pro,
ceeded was pointed out between the pier ana
u rock which intersects the channel, two CT
three hundred yards to the eastward. They
were said 10 be heard at night, and most
distinctly when the moon was nearest the
full. and they were described as resembling
the faint sweet notes OF the 1foi'an harp
| sent for some of the fishermen, who SAID
they were perfectly aware OF the Tact, and
that their fathers had always known OF the
existence of the musical sounds heard, they
said, at the spot alluded 10, but only during
the dry season, and they cease when the
lake il swollen by the freshest after the ram.
They believed them 10 proceed from shell,
which is known by the Tamil name OF oor1e
coolooroe crQdoe,) or the "crying shell,
name in which the sound seems TO have
been adopted as an echo OF the sense. |
sent them in search of the shell, and they
returned bringing me some living specl-
mems of different shells, chiefly fittoT'ad ana
csrtthiuBi In the evening, when the moon
had risen. took a boat and accompanied
the fishermen TO the spot We rowed about
200 Yards northeast of the jetty by the lost
gate: there was not breath of wind, nor a
ripple except that caused by the dip OF our
oars; and, on coming to the point mentioned,
/ distinctly head the sounds in question. =
They came up from the water like the gen
lie thrills Of musical chord, or the faint
vibrations Of wine-glass when It's rim IS
rubbed By wet finger. ltwas not one sus-
tanned note, but q multitude oftiny sounds,
each clear aud distinct IN itself; the sweeter
treble mingling with the lowest bass. On
apnlyiny the ear 70 the woodwork OF the
boat, the vibration was greatly Increased IN
volume bv conduction. The sounds varied
considerably at different points, as we moved
across the lake, as if the number Of the AMI
mails from which they proceeded was greatest
in particular spots; and occasionally we
rowed out of hearing of them altogether.
until, on returning TO the original locality,
the sounds were at once renewed Tins
fact seems to indicate that the causes OF the
sounds, whatever they may he, are stationa-
~ at several points; and this agrees with the
statement of the natives, that they are produ-
ced by mOllusca, and not by Ash. They came
evidently and sensibly from the depth of the
lake, and there was nothing in the surround
ing circumstances 10 support a conjecture
that they could be the reverberation OF mol
scs made by insects on the shore conveyed
along the surface of the water, for they
were loudest and most distinct at those points
where the nature of the land and the inter-
yenton of the fort and It's buildings forbade
the possibility Of this kind Of conduction.-
Sounds somewhat similar are heard under
water at some places on the western coast
of India especially in the harbor Of Bombay.
At Caldera, in Chill, musical csdences are
stated 70 issue from the sea near the landing
place; they are described as rising and fall
Ing fully four notes, resembling the tones of
harp-strings, aud mingliug Ike those at
Batticoloa, till they produce Il musical dis
cord of great delicacy and sweetness. The
animals from which they proceed have not
been identified at either place, aud the mys-
terry remains unsolved. whether those 1T
Batticoloa are given forth by fishes or by
mollusces IcuRet'S CeUlOn.