New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-27
MUSICAL FISHES.
From An The Year Round.


OF Screaming fishes we have curious notice
in Notes and Queries Second Series, vol =, y. lQ9
The writer states: In the carry part OF December
called upon Quaker gent einan at Darlington,
for whom | waited in a room in which stood a small
aquarium containing, along with the usual allot-
mont of sea-anemOnes, star-iShcs, cicy hVe hshes
not larger than minnows-a species Of bennies, as |
was informed. After watching their motions for
a few minutes, they loated near the surface Of
the water, stopped down 10 examine them more
nearly, when. to my utter amazement, they stimuli
taneously set up a shrek of terror, so loud and
piercing that sprung back as II electrified think
q human being could hardly nave set up louder or
shriller scream than did these tiny inhabitants of
SIR James Emerson Tenant, in his account of
Ceylon, relates: lin the evening, when the moon
had risen, took boat and accompanied the fisher
men To q spot where musical sounds were sand to be
heard issuing from the bottom of lake, and which
the natives supposed TO proceed IRON some hsh pc
culiar the locality distinctly heard the sounds
in qpeson They came up from the water ta ikG the
tons OF wine-glass when it's rim Is rubbed by
wet finger 1t was not one sustained note, hut a
multitude of tiny sounds, each clear and distinct in
itself the sweetest treble mingng with the deepest
bass evidently and sensby from the depths of the
lake, and appearetto be produced by mollusca and
The aiose belonging to the Cuprida) has been
noticed for its love OF music and dancing by ancient
writers. Aristotle says that II no sooner catches
the sound of music or dancing, than II Is ire
sistibly led to join the sport and cut capers and
throw summcrsaults out of the water. Hlan de-
clares that the sprightly conduct imputed TO the
who taking advantage of II, fastened little bells 10
their nets by the tinkling Of which above the sur
face the fish within hearing were attracted TO the
spot and Melted without difficulty
A somewhat similar mode OF catching iisi Is had
recourse to by the boatmen OF the Danube, who
arch across and keen tense upon strong stretchcrs
hung with greOts, a floating net, and 80 ring III
great nnbGr of fish by the tnkllng OF these bells
ROndolet, the famous naturalist, gives romantic
instance of the fOndness for music of fishes When
staying at Vlchy he took walk with some friends
in quest of along the banks Of the Aller, with
violin in hand ready Tor a serenade. lhe AR was
still the mo on and stars shining brilliantly. When
the party had come 10 a favorable spot for the
operatiOn, "a net was carefully drawn across the
stream, while the vionst, putting the instrument
to his chin, struck up a lively waltz. wonderful
effect ensued. Scarcely had he drawn his bow when
the sleeping surface of the waters began 10 move
alosa backs appeared ripping the sIiyery eXpanse,
and after few strokes large party Of fish might
be seen nsing and leaping III the water.
A writer i'll The AGtTdtisfs Ltbrdry observes:
''Ihe foAdness of seals for musical sounds Is GU
rious popularity III their nature and has been To me
often subject of interest and amusement. During
a residence Of some years In the llebrdes had
many opportunities OF witnessing TINS pccnllarlty;
and III fact, could call forth ITS manifestation at
pleasure. In walking along the shore III the calm
of "a summer afternoon 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
moved along the waters edge they would follow me
with cagerness like the do phus, who, it is said
attended Arion, as if anxious TO prolong the enjoy
ment. | have frequently witnessed the same effect
when out boat excursion. The sound OF flute,
or common fife, blown by one OF the boatmcn, was
no sooner heard than half a dozen would start up
within few yards, wheeling round us as long as
the music played, and disappearing one after an
other, when the music ceased