The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-16
FISH THAT SING IN CONCERT.
Strange Musical Sounds Produced BY
Certain Finny penizens Of the Sea-

SoTSAiu TtUuy SSnI1cHS op VIC oGA~
London Answers: Do fish sing? It
Is said that they do. n it is possible
that from their music has arisen the
legend of the singing OF the sirens OF
the sea. Some most Fascinating stories
lave been old of these musical sounds
Of the ocean which are attributed to
singing fish. Humboldt tells how, be-
ing in the South sea, the whole crew
became frightened by a strange noise
that resembled the beating OF drums
In the open air. 1t was at first thought
that this noise was produced by the
wind, but sOon 1t was heard clearly
alongside the ship. chiefly forward. 1t
resembled the noise OF boiling water
when the bubbles burst. Then it was
feared that the ship had sprung a
leak, but the noise extended success
sively to all parts Of the vessel. and
about 9 a. n. 1t ceased entirely. 1t
was afterward accredited to sound
produced by shoals of fish.
Lieut.. John White of the United
States navy reports that when In the
mouth of the Cambodia river he and
his party heard extraordinary sounds
around the ship. They were like the
mixture Of the bass notes of an or
gan. the ringing of bells, the cultural
cries OF a huge bullfrog and noises that
seemed to come from an enormous
harp. They seemed to shake the very
vessel. These noises increased. and
finally formed a universal chorus on
both sides of the ship and along its
entire length. AS the party assembled
the rive the sounds weakened. and
then ceased entirely. The Interpreter
told them hat the cause was a shoal
of fish of fiat oval form. which had
the power Of adhering strongly to va
rious bodies by the mouth.
The pogonias or drumf1sh, which in
habit tho AtlartiR rnnCf also mako
noises that are often heard at great
distances. 1t is thought-but this Is
not certain-that the noise Is produced
by rubbing the pharyngian teeth to-
gether. In the fresh water of the Rio
Mataje and the Rio del Molino are
found musical fish. which. because of
this popularity. are called by the ma
tives by the name Of "musicos."
During ar exploration Of the Bay of
Pailon, In the northern part of the re-
public of Ecuador. M. Thornton. with
his party. while skirting a shore n
day at about sunset, all at once heard
a strange sound. extremely low and
prolonged. which they thought at first
to be the humning of a large bee or
insect of some kind. Seeing nothing Of
the kind. however. M. Thornton asked
his oarsman where the noise came
from. and was told that 1t was a kind
OF fish, called by some sirens" and
by others "musicos.' Advancing a
little further. a multitude Of different
voices were heard, that initiated peg
fectly the lower and middle tones OF
a church gan heard outside the
building. as in the church porch. The
concert began about sunset and con-
tinued several hours. the ex~ecutants
not being disturbed by the presence Of
men. but not showing themselves at
the surface Of the water.
Another traveller, lie Mosie. describes
a concert of singing fishes. each one of
which emits. as in Russian music. only
a single note-full. long and grave--a
sound like that of an ophicleide. These
make up a most extraordinary "ensem-
air In a different key. The tones arise
Observation-Disclosures. behind. In the
boat. and the water In which they are
produced gives them a peculiar quail
ity. The author OF this melancholy
melody is a long fish. with a large. fiat
head. The natives call 1t "machovian."
It is greenish. spotted. with a silvery
belly. and has short antennae on the
o
Prayer relates that one night when
he was on the Pontinias. the largest
river on the west coast OF Borneo. he
heard very distinct music. sometimes
low. sometimes high, sometimes dis
tant. sometimes near. 1t came from
the depths, like a o Of the sirens.
sometimes sounding like a powerful
organ. sometimes like a sweet and
harmonious AeoIian harp. A diver
hears this music much more clearly.
and pe%rceives that 1t comes from sew
eral distinct voices. This music. so
the natives declare. is produced by
fish.
Several other kinds Of fish are able
to sing. but their Identity Is not GER
tain In many cases. The "doree" Uohn
Dory). or fish Of st. Peter, manifests
its presence at low tide by a sort Of
clucking that has given 1t the name
OF water chicken" A "baliste" (trig-
ger fish) gives out p~laintive and mel
ancholy sounds like the creaking Of a
wagon wheel. A pristipome initiates
exactly the uuack Of a duck. Even the
funny can thrust Its head out of the
water and sing in a voice that initiates
a crying infant.
Cheapening Money.