The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-18
TESaaPiaS KEPT TIME

II Is not generally known that OF all
seem to be most susceptible TO noise OF a
certain kind. IL there are turtles In the
water and a person beats on the side or
bottom of tho boat with stick they will
come to the surface snd curiouslS poke
their heads above water and curiously
peer arounu, taking care TO keep re-
spectacle and safe distance from the man
and the boat
A very curious illustration Of the effect
on terrapins of the drumming sound
made by beating with a stick on a solid
wooden substance was witnessed by the
writer few years ago. Messrs., Robert
Lowry. OF New York, and NJ. #. Colds
borough, and Oswald Tilghman, of Tai
bot county. had terrapin pond, about
two acres in extent, on OXwcli creek near
Oxford. Sometimes there would be sew
eral thousand terrlplns i'm the pond. The
keeper OF the pond and the csretRker OF
the terrapins WAS Capt. Charles Cochran,
who lived In y house built for him on the
bank OF the creek. THIS was his sole oc-
cupation aud the captain studied the
habits of the impounded terrepin very
closely and intelligently
The terrapips were sed on hard crabs,
crushed I'm a farm mill and thrown into
the pond, always at the same place, but
not always at the same hour After
throwing the food into the water the cap
tain would beat on the boards OF the pond
fence with a stick and soon from all
parts of the pond could be seen he tur-
tie heads above the water. making with
all speed possible to the feeding ground,
although before he commenced 10 thump
very few heads could be seen, perhaps
none.
Capt Cochran had some rhythmic skill.
he could beat the timo OF any ordinary
tune on the fence with his stick and he
found his terrapin heads would respond.
To the slow movement OF the "Old Hun
drcd" they would advance in slow and
stately procession. while 10 the rapid
time of "Old Dan Tucker they would
move their necks I'm a ierky way from
side To side, and 81 he beat Il very fast
they would dip their heads under water
and bob them up again two or three times
a second. Dixie seemed 60 bo their fa-
vorlte, and they would respond 10 its
movement with something like military
precision. The captain would use
frequently the first stanza OF Aud Lang
Syne," TO show of the tuneful proclivi-
ties OF his terrapins. lie would hum the
words and beat the movement in four diff
ferent times The FIRST was very slow and
head aud NECK movement then he would
pass To faster time and the turtles
would show much more animation. the
third was n double-quick movement and
tho terra pinsautiphon was a double-quicK
notion the great rapidity and. sudden
increase OF repidity Of the fourth re-
hearsal would 80 Increase the excitement
IN me pond that the water would swirl.
almost foam and boil. and the turtles
would lift part OF their bodies out of the
water. and by this time Capt Cochran
himself would be more or less excited.
lie would give these exhibitions only %
a very favored few. This wss the only
kint OF music the terrapins would ~.
spOnd TO. They were net sf7sotec by the
music OF the whistle the Jews harp, the
violin OF the accordion Even bsspipes
were tried without effect. Captain Cock
ran h now keepor n Miles River Bridge
Battle u1ore sun