San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-31
The Language OF Animals.

NAT lnc ullltTcul OIucIS VI tuC loWOi
animals have some mode or modes OF
communicating news, orimpressions. to
those of their own species, is fact SO
we'll attested by observation that few
intelligent people doubt it. The birds
and beasts, and even the countless tribes
of the insect world, do convey to their
fellows, in some way, information which
causes them to act otherwise than they
would do in the absence of such commu-
nication. How this is accomplished is
mystery which no one has yet pene-
trated. Some have guessed that the an
imals have language of their own-we
ought rather to say languages-for If
among men there be so many combina-
tons of sound employed to express the
same idea, there must be an even more
widely varied range of expression in the
almost infinite diversity of structure
presented by the whole animal king
dom.
The question arises, may not the
problem be solved by the phonographp
That instrument records with precision
the material impressions produced by
the sound waves due to the vocal utter
ances of human being, and renders it
possible to compare, at leisure, the re-
suits craven in tinfoil for as many Ian
guages as the investigator may have at
command. He may note the differences
of form which mark the utterance of the
several vocables, and, by comparing
these with those given by mere tone va
riety, arrive at systematic knowledge
of the signs which distinguish articula-
ton from the non-articulate emissions
of sound. This being done it would not
be very long step further to ascertain
if the sounds emitted by the lower ami
mails have the distinctive character of
speech utterance---made visible' to the
eye though not recognizable by the
ear. 1t might even be found that
some of these expressions are due
to movements which lie outside the
nine-octave range that constitutes our
musical ladder, but which certainly has
a vast possible range of expression
above it, and perhaps below it. For
aught that we know there may be con-
carried on in the insect do
main in so high key that to us they are
silence, but only need transformation
to make them appreciable-as the pic
ture which the sun stamps on photo
graph plate must be developed by treat
ment with chemicals before it is visible |
to our eyes.
The employment of the photograph
in this investigation might be expected
n tn .to, Ifc
Even if it should give us reason to be-
ieve that the utterances of sounds are
only ejaculatory, it would enable us
20 reason more precisely than now
With regard to the degrees of intel
igence possessed by the lower animals
Is compared with man. But if it should
De found that they have the power to
precise information by
,arying at will the character of sounds
quilted, what field for investigation
will be opened up! Not more difficult
han the deciphering of the Assyrian
bricks or the Egyptian papyri, would be
he studying out of the language of
birds, beasts, and insects; and we might
wen get some of them to give us brief
DISCOURSE of their history and feelings,
nd their ideas of the universe, includ-
ng ourselves. What an addition to our
a change in our modes of
bought, would follow such revelations!
We might take pleasure in the hum of
he mosquito, love to hear the rat tell
lis opinion about the relative usefulness ,,
+ man, gather valuable ideas from the !
Jolf about the future course of the sheep
market, get some intelligent denizen of ,,
he poultry-yard to solve the long-vexed :
uestion, (which was created first: !;
he hen or the eggp' and coax whale !
ito saving the cost and risk of another i.
[owgate expedition by telling us all !
bout the North Pole. We may then 90 4.
, the owl and the ant for wisdom, as :
hey did in days of yore.-Erchange. :
Suffering at Fall River.