The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-08
v TEACHING WOLVES TO SING. =
.
(New York Times.l

his.
The long-drawn howl of a timber
wolf shattered the solitude which
comes at nightfall in the geological
park in the bronx. There came a
chorus of howls, and then silence.
After an interval there came another
howl. this so low that heard at % dis
lance it sounded like the echo of a
moan. n this last sound was more
melodious than the first-a sort Of
ideal wolf call to the. night; slightly
soprano and rising m%usically, note
upon note.
This last call was not the cry of a
wolf. 1t came from a phonograph
hidden near the wolf cages. and was
a demonstration of an experiment that
is being conducted by a student of
animals to prove that the calls of wild
ANIMALS can be mad more musical:
in other words, that voice culture is
possible among animals. Raymond L.
Dltmars. the curator of the zoo, is en-
thusiastic over this experiment., as he
is over the oddities in the ZOO, which
from time to time find their way n
print. Mr.. Ditmars is of the opinion
that already the wolves can howl more
IN and in key than they
could before the phonograph and the
scientist began to teach them the way
TO reach high c gracefully. To the
unframed ear. however, the howls re-
main as unmusical AS they were in the
nights before the experiment began.
MT. did not give the name
or the scientist who is demonstrating
ms theory. and ne offered no informa-
ZION regarding the identity Of the per-
son or animal who gave forth the me
lodlous wolf call which is now record
ed on n monograph and let off at
intervals to brighten staid, home-goinp
~hr"nNltes. He admitted it was not a
record of Caruso's voice. The new
wolf call is bad enough. but it is GER
fanny an Improvement upon the cali
given out by the unframed wolf V ice.
NJ, ANNALS. according to a theory of
Mr. D1tmars. utter peculiar sounds by
nature and environment. The first
wolves howled a certain way, nd
their successors took up the same
do!cful call. and the call of the wolf
IS little changed today. 1t is the rela-
i've Importance Ct the effect of en-.
'Hironment that is being tested. 1t is
believed that the wolves will learn in
l1fttng up their voices to insert more
and more melodious and harmonious
notes.
For some nights now the phono-
graph has been at work. There has
heen some inquiry AS to what new ami
NAL has arrived. but not much .~eor-
nation has been volunteered. The
mas hoI reached the Dir
Where publicity can be Officially au.
th0rized. Besides. the animals NAV
refuse to respond to voice culture.
wolves were chosen as the first SIN.
dents because their cal is a long one
and the animals occupy quar-
tiers In the open. separated from the
other sound makers by such a stretch
OF territory that they cannot he inter-
fered with by n other animal a1x-
ious not to lose the chance of having
its voice cultivated.
One wolf, q grizzled old fellow, is a
most encouraging pupil. All took
readily to the music. and the whole
pack sat up on their launches and
hoWlcd Justify when first the phono-
srahh was turned loose to surprise
them. Now they appear more recon-
cilcd to the musical call.
The grizzled VOLTA most excel
lent pupil" to quote Mr.. Ditmars-