Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-26
SPEECH OF ANIMALS.
A SUBJECT IN WHICH MANY ARE
TAKING INTEREST.

enco With . Pet SQuirrel-He II Sure
That 1t Talks" to Him and Understands
Much That He ssys-InteiliEent Dogs.
That animals have a means of commu-
nication among themselves through Ger
tain vocal sounds is awell established
fact. that these vocal sounds are of suffi-
rient range to express other than mere
physical ideas and thus to assume the i'm
portance Of language is probable, H.
though us yet improved.
For the last three years have had q
sanle fox squirrel of which have made u
great pet. Polly has occupied cage in
the laboratory where she has been for the
most part shut off from the sights and
sounds of the outside world. Although at
times the 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
I am about she is usually close to me,
either on my shoulder or following me
about like dog.
UnconscionsIy at first and later with a
definite purpose have talked to her much
as one would talk to young child. About
II year ago she began to reply to my con-
versation. At first it was only in response
TO my questions as TO food, etc., .,uG later
her talk has assumed large: proper
tons, until now she will, of her own ac-
cord, assume the initiative.
Her vocabulary appears to be quite eN-
tensive, and while for the most part it per-
tains to matters of food and personal COM
fort there are times when it seems as
though she were trying to tell me of other
things.
When first go out where she is in the
morning, she immediately asks for food,
and until that want is supplied she keeps
up Il constant muttering. Later when her
hunger is appeased she will ask to be let
out of the cage. Often whenp playing about
the room she will climb onto my shoulder
and talk to me for awhile in Il low tone
aud then scamper off. Unless she is sleepy
she will always reply to any remark made
to her.
Her speech is not the chattering ordi-
narily observed in squirrels, but low
cultural tcne that reminds one both OF
the low notes Of Il frog and the cluck of a
chicken. Some of the notes have been
able 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 desist 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
ficult, vet there is as much range of intiec-
tion rs in German.
Another reason why believe she is en-
deavoring to communicate with me is that
cka hoe mead fba cnnndS fOwor6
other squirrels confined in the same cage,
and that, while she will answer any ono
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-
guish between IL remark made to her and
one made to some one else.
When Polly first commenced talking"
| regarded it merely as idle chattering.
but further observation shows that it is
not such, and that the sounds she makes
have u definite meaning. Moreover, the
sounds she makes in Walking" are not
the shrill notes of anger or alarm, but
low. clear sounds that are Enthusiastically
articulate.
In my fondness for my pet have 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
man9 The higher animals are possessed
of a well formed larynx, and vocal chords.
Why, then, should we deny or ever ques-
ton the possibility of articulate speech?
And if they can converse among them
selves why may they not attempt to COM
municate with man?
Any one who has owned a well bred dog
can relate numerous instances in which
his dog has clearly understood what was
said to it, and the readiness with which
dog learns q new command shows an IN
telligence OF high order. Although
dogs vocabulary is of limited range. it
has certain definite sounds that possess an
unmistakable meaning. There is the short,
sharp bark that expresses u want, the
low nervous bark that means discom-
fort, the sharp. quick bark of joy, the low
whine of distress, the growl of distrust,
the deep growl of anger, the loud bark Of
warning and the whimper of fright. When
to these are added the various movements
of the body. covering in fear. crouching
in anger. the stiff bracing of the body in
defense, leaping in joy and many special
actions as licking the hand of the master
or pulling at his clothes, we find that a
dog can express his likes and dislikes, his
wants and his feeling as clearly MS though
he were human. Any one who in q time
of sorrow or depression has had his dog
come to him and lay its head in his lap
and has looked down into those great
brown eyes so full of sympathy and love
can ever doubt that the dog understood
all and in its own way was trying to COM
fort.
A friends cat has an unmistakable
sound for yes and no. The former is low
meyouw, while the latter is a short, sharp
m'yow. If Tom wants to go out, that
fact is made manifest by quick meyouw.
If rercbance any one should be in the chair
which Tom regards as his especial proper
ty. no regard for propriety restraints him
from indicating that fact and unceremoni
Husly ordering the INSTRUCTOR out. His
neyouw on such an occasion cannot be
mistaken. Instances of this sort are not
uncommon and ordinarily fail to attract
attention, but is there not here a field that
will well repay careful investigation
DR.. Howard n. Lyon in Science.
Fifteen Cold Bottles a Day.
Berry Wall and his friend Lord Clag-
gett dine often at a hotel. They take their
dinner in the middle of the day and prob
n blv call it ssluncb A" as Berry il n family