1 68 Instincts, Habits, and Adaptations 



fishes having learned by experience that on the hearing certain 

 sounds they may expect food. But Lacepede mentions that 

 some were able to distinguish their individual names; and the 

 same occurs in India. Lieutenant Connolly* remarked upon 

 seeing numerous fishes coming to the ghaut at Sidhnath to be 

 fed when called; and on "expressing our admiration of the 

 size of the fish, 'Wait,' said a bystander, 'until you have seen 

 Raghu.' The Brahmin called out his name in a peculiar tone 

 of voice ; but he would not hear. I threw in handful after hand- 

 ful of ottah (flour) with the same success, and was just leaving 

 the ghaut, despairing and doubting, when a loud plunge startled 

 me. I thought somebody had jumped off the bastion of the 

 ghaut into the river, but was soon undeceived by the general 

 shout of 'Raghu, raghu,' and by the fishes, large and small, 

 darting away in every direction. Raghu made two or three 

 plunges, but was so quick in his motions that I was unable to 

 guess at his species." [It may be said in relation to these stories 

 quoted by Dr. Day, that they probably belong to the mythology 

 of fishes. It is very doubtful if fishes are able to make any such 

 discrimination among sounds in the air.] 



Sounds of Fishes. Pallegoix states that in Siam the dog's- 

 tongue (Cynoglossus) is a kind of sole; it attaches itself to the 

 bottom of boats, and makes a sonorous noise, which is more 

 musical when several are stuck to the same boat and act in 

 concert (vol. i. p. 193). These noises can scarcely be due to 

 anger or fear. Sir J. Bowring (vol. ii. p. 276) also remarks 

 upon having heard this fish, "which sticks to the bottoms of 

 the boats, and produces a sound something like that of a jew's- 

 harp struck slowly, though sometimes it increases in loudness, 

 so as to resemble the full tones and sound of an organ. My 

 men have pointed me out a fish about four inches long as the 

 author of the music." 



Some years since, at Madras, I (Dr. Day) obtained several 

 specimens of a fresh-water Siluroid fish (Macrones vittatus) which 

 is termed the "fiddler" in Mysore. I touched one which was 

 on the wet ground, at which it appeared to become very irate, 

 erecting its dorsal fin, making a noise resembling the buzzing of 



* " Observations on the Past and Present Condition of Onjein," Journal of 

 the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vi. p. 820. 



