Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-07-28
FISH THAT SING IN CONCERT.


Do fish sing? 1t is said that they do,
and it is possible that from their music
has arisen the legend of the singing of
the sirens OF the sea Some most fasci-
mating stories have been told OF these
musical sounds OF the ocean which are
attributed to singing fish Humboldt tells
how, being in the South Sea, the whole
crew became frightened by 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 II was heard clearly alongside
the ship. chiefly forward. II resembled the
noise of boiling water when the bubbles
burst. Then 1t was feared that the ship
had sprung a leak, but the noise ex-
tended successfully to all parts OF the
vessel, and about a. m. it ceased entirely
1t was afterwards accredited to sounds
produced by shoals of fish.
Lieutenant 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 organ, the ringing
or bells, the cultural cries OF a huge BULL
frog 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 river
the sounds weakened. and then ceased
entirely The interpreter told them that
the cause was shoal OF fish Of fiat oval
form, which had the power OF adhering
strongly to various bodies by the mouth
The pogonias, or drumhsh, which in
habit the Atlantic coast, also make noises
that are often heard at great distances
II Is thought-but this is not certain
tnat the noise is produced by rubbing the
pharyngian teeth together. In the fresh
water OF the Rio MataJe and the Rio del
Molho are round musical fish, which, be-
cause or this popularity, are called by the
natives by the name OF ''musicos."
Durlng an exploration of the Bay Of
Fallon' In the northern part Of the Re-
public OF Ecuador, NJ. Thornton. with his
party while slIirting a shore one day at
about sunset, all at once heard a strange
SOUND, extremely low and prolonged, which
they thought at first to be the humming
OF 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 IL
was Kind of fish called by some Sirens
ana by other 'musicos." Advancing a
nttle FURTHER multitude Of different
voices were heard, that initiated perfectly
the lower and middle tones OF a church
organ, heard outside the building. as I'm
the church porch. The concert began
ABOUT sunset and continued several hours
the eNecutants not being disturbed by the
presence OF men, but not showing them
selves at the surface of the water.
Another traveller, lie Mosle. Describes n
concert or singing fishes, each one of
Whlch emits, as in Russian music. onlv a
single note-full, long and grave-a sound
IKE that OF an ophicleide. These make
up most extraordinary "ensemble." each
eAecutant plays unique air in a different
KEY. The tones arise everyWhere-he-
iore' behind, in the boat, and the water
IN which they are produced gives them a
peculiar quality. The author OF tbis
melancholy melody is a long fish. with a
large, nat head. The natives call a.
machovian." 1t is greenish, spotted
with silvery belly, and has short
antennae on the snout
Prayer relates that one night when ha
was on the Pontiniac, the largest river
On the west coast OF Borneo. he baar5
very distinct music, sometimes low. some
times high, sometimes distant, Sometimes
near II came from the depths. like ths
song OF the sirens, sometimes SOUNDING
IKE powerful organ, sometimes lilxa q
sweet set ana harmonious Aeolian harm A
uNer hears this music much more clearly
ana perceives that 1t comes from several
olsunct voices. This music, SO the natives
declare, is produced by fish.
several other kinds OF fish ara abla 70
sing, out their identity is not certain IN
many cases. The "doree" (John Dorv1
or nsh OF ST. Peter, manifests its presence
a. 10" TIDE by sort OF clucking that has
given IL the name OF water Chicken"
a Oanste' (trisger fish, gives out plain