Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-05-28
CLIMBING AND SINGING FISH.

'.On the occasion ofanother visit which made
to Batticolea, in September, 1913, made some
inquiries relative to q story which bad heard
Of musical sounds, said 10 be heard issuing from
the bottom Of the lake, at several places, both
above and below the ferry opposite the old
Dutch Fort and which the natives suppose to
proceed from some ish peculiar to the locality.
The report was confirmed to me in all its parti-
culars, and one Of the spots whence the sounds
proceed was pointed out between the pier aud
rock which intersects the channel, two or three
hundred yards to the eastward. They were snid
to be heard at night, and most distinctly when the
moon was nearest the full, and they were des-
cribed as resembling the faint sweet notes Of the
Eoiinn harp. | sent for some of the fishermen
who said they were perfectly aware Of the fact,
'and that their fathers had always known Of the
existence of the musical sounds heard, they said.
at the spot alluded to, but only during the dry
season, and they cease when the lake Is swollen
BY the freshes after the rain. They believe
them 10 proceed from q shell, which is known by
the Tamil name Of (o0Tee eoolOeroe cradoc or) 'the
crying SHE'LL name in which the sound seems
to have been adopted rs an echo Of the sense J
sent them in search Of the shell, and they re-
turned, bring me some living specimens ut dill
ferent shells, chiefly litterma aud cerith'urn. In
the evening when the moon had risen took
boat and accompanied the fishermen TO the spot
We rowed about two hundred yards northeast
of the jetty by the tort gate; there was not
breath Of wind, nor ripple except that eeused
| by the dip of our oars; and on coming 70 the
point mentioned, distinctly heard tue sounds
| In question. They came up from ihe Waierliks
the gentle trils Of a musical chord, or the faint
vibrations of wine. glass when ils rim is rubbed
| by q wet finger. II was not one sustained note,
but a multitude of tiuy sounds, each clear ani
distinct in itself; the sweetest treble mingling
with the lowest bass. On applying the ear TO
the wood work Of the boat, the Vibration was
greatly increased in volume by coudueiion. The
sounds varied considerably at different points Hs
we moved acros, the lake, as if the number 0f
animals from which they proceeded was greatest
in particular spots and occasionally We rowed
out Of hearing Of them altogether, untl Oh re
turning to the original locality tue sounds were
at once renewed,-7eRnsP CeyioR-
FoR rHE CURIoUs.-The greyhound rlus by
eyesight only. and this we assert as fact The
carrier. pigeon fiies on bis two hundred nm ffty
miles Journey homeWard by eyesighi, VIZ. ig fr
point to point of object which he has 'bea
Int this is only our conjecture. Tie hasca
DRAGON ay, with twelve thousand lenses . A.e
eve, darts from angle to angle with tho TAI duy
| Of a flashing sword, and as rapidly darts bacE-
mt turning in the air, but with ola reverria.
the action of his four wings, and instantaneou-
| ly calculating the distance Of the objects OF l4
would dash himself to pieces But in wha, CON
formation Of his does this consist No one can
answer.
/ A cloud Of ten thousand gnats dance up ami
down in the sun-the minutest interval between
ihem-Jet no one knocks another headlong upon
the grass, or breaks leg or wing, long and
delicate as these are. Suddenly-amdst your
admiration Of this matchless danee--a peculiarly
high-shouldered, vicious gnat, with long, pen-
/ dant nose, darts out of the rising and ialin
cloud, and settling on your cheeks, inserts o.
sonous sting what possessed the little wretch
TO do this Did he smell your blood in the mazy
danoei No one knows.
A four.horse coach comes suddenly upon n
aoct ~ geese ON a narrow road, and d. ives
straight through the middle of them. A roo'
was never yet fairly run over, nor duos. tNet
are under the very wheels and hoots' AMI ys
somehow they eonirive to Gap aud woddle OF
Iabitunily stupid heavy and iudolent, they arc
! nevertheless, equal to any emergency. VIII,
does the lonely Wood-pecker, when be descend
from his tree and goes to drink, stop severn
l timeF on his way--isten and look around-oe
T fore he takes his drauehtl No one knows.