Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-03


OF screaming fishes we have a curious no.
tice in Notes and Queries Second Series, vol
?, p. 1O9). The writer states:-.' In the early
part Of December called upon a Quaker gen
tleman at Darlington, for whom I waited in a
room in which stood small aquarium. contain
ing, along with the usual allotment of sea-
anemOnes, star-fshes. ETC., five fishes not larger
than minnows-a species of blennies. as l was
informed After watching their motions for q
few minutes as they foated near the surface OF
the water. I stopped down to examine them
more nearly, when. tony utter amazement, they
simultaneously set up a shrek OF terror. SO loud
nd piercing that l sprung back as if electrified.
think a human being could hardly have set up
a louder or shrier scream than did these tiny
Inhabitants of the water"
Sir James Emerson Tenant, in his account
OF CeylOn, relates: I'm the evening, when the
moon had risen, took a boat and accompa-
nled the fishermen to spot where musical
sounds were said to be heard issuing from the
bottom of a lake, and which the natives sup
posed to proceed from some fish peculiar to the
locality. distinctly heard the sounds in ques-
ton They came up from the water like the
gentle thrills OF musical chord. Orthe faint vbra-
lions OF a Wineglass when its rim is rubbed by a
wet finger. 1t was not one sustained note, but
a multitude of tiny sounds. each clear and dis
tinct in itself, the sweetest treble mingling with
the deepest bass. evidently and sensibly from
the depths of the lake. and appeared to be pro-
duced by mOllusca. and not nv fish"
The aOse belonging to the Ciupeid;e) has been
noticed for its love of music and dancing by an
cient writers. Aristotle says that it no sooner
catches the sound of music or sees dancing than
it is irresistibly led to join the sport. and cut
capers and throw summersaults out ofthe water
Allan declares that the spriChtly conduct i'm
puted to the shad by Aristotle was well known
to fishermen, who. taking advantage of it. fast
ened little bells to their nets by the tinkling of
which above the surface the fish within hearing
were attracted to the spot and Melted without
difficulty.
A somewhat similar mode of catching fish is
had recourse to by the bOatmen of the Danube.
who arch across and keep tense upon strong
stretchers hung with grelOts a floating net and
SO ring in a great number Of fish by the tinkling
OF these bells. RondOlet, the famous natural
list. gives romantic instance of the fOndness
for music of fishes. When staying at Vichy he
took walk with some friends in quest of alosa
along the banks of the Aer. with violin in
hand ready for serenade. The air was still
the moon and stars shining brilliantly. When
the party had come to a favorable spot for the
operation. a net was carefully drawn across the
stream. while the vioinist, putting the instru-
ment to his chin, struck up lively waltz A
wonderful effect ensued. Scarcely had he drawn
his bow when the sleeping surface of the waters
began to move; alosa backs appeared ripping
the silyery eXpanse and after a few strokes a
large party of fish might be seen rising and leap
ing in the water.
A writer in The NnturaHsfs Library observes:
1.-The fOndness of seals for musical sounds is a
curious peculiarly in their nature. and has
been to me often subject of interest and amuse
ment During residence of some years in the
Hebrides had many opportunities of witness
ing this popularity; and in fact, could call
forth its manifestation at pleasure In walking
along the shore in the calm of a summer after
noon few notes of my flute would bring half a
score OF seals within thirty or forty yards of me-
and there they would swim about with their
heads above water like so many black dogs
evidently delighted with the sounds. For half
an hour OF. indeed, for any length of time |
chose. could fix them to the spot and when l
moved along the waters edge they would follow
HE with eagerness like the dOlphns. who. it is
said, attended Arion. as if anxious to prOlong
the enjoyment | have frequently witnessed the
same effect when cut on boat excursion. The
sound of a flute. or a common fife blown by
one OF the bOatmen. was sooner heard than
half dozen would start up within a few yards.
wheeling round us as long as the music played.
and disappearing, one after another, when the
music ceased