The Goldsboro star. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1881-18??, 1882-02-18
Musical Fishes.

VI " screaming" fishes we have q
curious notice in Notes and Queries,
The writer states: "In the early part
of December I called upon Quaker
gentleman at Darlington, for whom l
waited in room in which stood small
aquarium containing, along with the
usual allotment Of sea anemones, star
fishes, etc, five fishes not larger than
minnows--a species of blennies, as ]
was informed. After watching their
motions for few minutes, as they
foated near the surface of the water, /
stopped down to examine them more
neatly, when, to my utter amazement,
they simultaneously set up shrek of
terror, so loud and piercing that /
sprung back as if electrified. l think a
human being could hardly have set up
a louder or shriller scream than did
those tiny inhabitants Of the water"
Sir James Emerson Tenant, in his
account OF Ceylon, relates I'm the
evening, when the moon had risen. I
took boat and accompanied the fisher
men to spot where musical sounds
were said to be heard issuing from the
bottom of lake, and which the natives
supposed to proceed from some fish
peculiar to the locality. distinctly
heard the sounds in question. They
came up from the water like the gentle
thrills Of musical chord, or the faint
vibrations Of ne-glass when its rim
is rubbed by wet finger. 1t was not
one sustained note, but multitude of
tiny sounds. each clear and distinct in
itself, the sweetest treble mineling with
the deepest bass, evidently and sensibly
from the depths Of the lake, and APP
peared to be produced by mollusea, and
not by fish,"
The alosa has been noticed for its
love Of music and dancing by ancient
writer's. Aristotle says that it no sooner
catches the sound OF music or sees
dancing than it is irresistibly led to
join the sport, land cut capers and throws
somersaults out Of the water. Elian
declares that the sprightly conduct
imputed to the shad by Aristotle was
well known to fishermen, who, taking
advantage of it fastened little bells to
THEN nets, by the tinkling Of which
above the surface the fish within hear
lngwere attracted to the spot and netted
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 q floating net, and so ring
10 great number Of fish by the tinkling
of these bells. Rondolet, the famous
naturalist, 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 Allier, with violin in
hand ready for serenade. The air
was still, the moon and stars shining
brilliantly. When the party had come
to o favorable spot for the operation, q
net was carefully drawn across the
stream, while the violinist, putting the
instrument to his chin, struck up a
lively waltz. A wonderful effect
ensued. Scarcely had he drawn his
bow when the sleeping surface of the
waters began to move alosa backs ap.
peared ripping the silvery expanse,
and after few strokes'a large party Of
fish might be seen rising and leaping in
the water. NfN H'lsf.tN
A writer in the s'Naturalist's Library"
observes: "The fondness of seals for
musical sounds Is b curious popularity
in their nature, and has been to me
often subject Of interest and amuse-
ment. During q residence Of some
years in the Hebrides I had many OPP
portunities OF witnessing this pecul-
iarity, and, in fact, could call forth its
manifestations at pleasure. In walking
along the shore in the calm of summer
afternoon a few notes of my flute would
bring half q 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 On hour, or, indeed, for any
length Of time chose, I could fix them
to the spot, and when I moved along
the waters edge they would follow me
with eagerness, like the dolphins, who,
it is said, attended Arion, as if anxious
to prolong the enjoyment. ] have fre-
quently witnessed the same effect when
out on boat excursion. The sound of
flute, or common fife, blown by one
of the boatmen, was no sooner heard
than half q dozen would start up within
few yards, wheeling around us as long
as the music played, and disappearing,
one after another, when the music
ceased" !.