Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-02-22


That animals have u means of commu
nication among themselves through GER
tain vocal sounds is well established
fact that these vocal sounds are of suiIi-
cient range to express other than mere
physical ideas and thus to assume the i'm
portnnce of II language is probable, al
though us yet improved.
For tae last three years I have had
tame fox squirrel of which / have made
great pet. Polly has occupied cage in
the laboratory where she has been for the
most'part shut off from the sights and
pounds of the outside world. Although at
.mes tho laboratory has had other ten
ants in the shape of squirrels, rabbits and
guinea pigs, she has formed no particu
lar attachment for any of them, but when
/ am about she is usually close to me,
either on my SHOULDER or following me
about like dog.
Unconsciously at first and later with a
definite purpose | have talked TO her much
az one would talk to a young child About
n year ago she began to reply to my con-
versation. At first it was only in response
to my questions as to food, etc, but later
her "talk" has assumed larger proper
TONS until now she will, of her own ac-
cord. assume the initiative.
Her vocabulary appears to he quite ex-
tensive, and while for the most part it per-
tains to matters of food and personal conf
fort there are times when it seems as
though she were trying to tell me Of other
things.
When first 90 out where she is i'll the
morning, she Immediately asks for food,
and until that want is supplied she keeps
up constant muttering. Later when her
hunger is appeased she will ask to be let
out of the cage. Often when playing about
the room she will climb onto my shoulder
and "talk" to me for awhile in Il low tone
and then scamper off. Unless she is sleepy
she will always reply to any remark made
to her
Her speech is not the chattering ordi-
narilv observed in squirrels. but low
cultural tone that reminds one both of
the low notes of Il frog and the cluck of a
chicken. Some of the notes | have been
n bic to repeat, and invariably she becomes
alert and replies to them. Unfortunately,
the effort to reproduce her tones produces
an uncomfortable effect on my throat, and
| have been obliged to desst from further
experiments in that direction. The sounds
that she makes are quick and in low tone,
so the attempt to isolate words is very diff
I 1icult, yet there is as much range of inflec-
ton as in German.
Another reason why I believe she is en-
deavoring to communicate with me is that
she has used the same sounds toward
other squirrels confined in the same cage
and that, while she will answer any one
who addresses her. she voluntarily will
only talk at length to me. That she under
stands what is said to her is beyond ques-
ton, and, furthermore, she will distin-
Cuish between remark made to her and
one made to some one else.
When Polly first commenced "talking, !"
regarded it merely as idle chatterng,
but further observation shows that it is
not such, and that the sounds she makes
have definite meaning. Moreover the
sounds she makes in talking" are not
| the shrill notes Of anger or alarm, but
low, clear sounds that are Enthusiastically
| articulate.
lnmy fondness for my pet have I overes-
| timated the value of the sounds she makes,
or am | right in assigning to them the
| characters of speech? Why should an ami
nal not attempt to communicate with
man? The higher animals are possessed
| of a well formed larynX and vocal chords.
Why, then, should we deny or ever Ques-
| ,'on 'ne possip'liuy ol artlcuiaee Speech
anu II 'neS can conNerSo "nioiiS UIein-
serves why may 'ney no' a''eiiiPO " GULF
hluu'e"'o WIN i'lan!
any one VINO HAS oWneu wen oreu uoS
can relate numerous instances in which
MS cog mas Clearly UNDERSTOOD, "nHt was
said to it, and the readiness with which a
uoS learns ne" command SHOWS All III
tclliSe'ce Oh hieh oruer' Although a
uos Nocapulary IS Oh limited range ~
mas cerlalh ueIhl'e SOUNDS that possess an
unihls'ahapie meaning 1here Is inc SNORT
sharP DARK thaC expresses n want 'he
low nervous DARK 'nao means discohi-
'ort' the sharp quick Dark Oh JOY the 10"
Wh'ne Oh dls'ress' the grow Oh ois'ruso.
the ueep grow Oh anger the ioui park OIL
warming ana the Whihper Oh lriehu' "hen
10 1hese are auoed tne various movements
- '"eoN', ''N "'''A 'i"N'hso vs. WV ''J -.