224 
spot of all, the theory being that the fishes, if they could speak at all, 
would certainly be compelled by their emotions of surprise to utter some 
sound. The result of the series of experiments that were carried on 
under these circumstances last summer was more favourable than had 
been anticipated. After many descents the scientist was able to obtain 
nearly a dozen clear records, including the note of astonishment of a 
shark and the cries of astonishment of many deep sea monsters, one or 
two being specimens the existence of which the scientist had never 
known. The strange part of it all is that while it was impossible to 
obtain any distinct sound from the fishes, even when they were caught 
and taken to the surface, a record was certainly made by the machine, 
and the sound made by one fish differed greatly from that of any other. 
Professor KoLLIcKEr in speaking of the results of this experiment 
says: — “I am of the opinion that the noises produced by fishes will 
yet be recognised as a language, but that question is yet open to dis- 
cussion. There is no further doubt, however, that they are expressions 
of the various emotions and that they have some. meaning as a com- 
munication between one fish and another. The results of my attempts 
to obtain records of the sounds made by fishes are extremely gratifying.” 
Als ich auf diese Verlockung hin, der Aufforderung, die beigelegt 
war, mich auf diese Ausschnitte aus Zeitungen zu abonniren, nicht 
nachkam, erhielt ich am 15. Januar 1900 von London aus, 23. Cock- 
spur Str. (Telegraphic Address: Bretwalda, London) nochmals genau 
denselben Ausschnitt, der das erste Mal als aus der Zeitung ,,The 
Field‘ stammend bezeichnet war, nun aus der Zeitung „Land and 
Water“ wieder mit der Aufforderung, mich zu abonniren, was beweist, 
daß die Press Cutting Association Limited mit einer nicht geringen 
Zähigkeit vorgeht. 
Da mir daran lag, zu wissen, ob der Mitteilung des amerikani- 
schen Blattes wenigstens irgend eine kleine Thatsache zu Grunde lag, 
so frug ich bei College DoHrRN an, der mir am 29. I. antwortete: „von 
einem wahren Hintergrunde sei natürlich keine Rede‘. Dasselbe Re- 
sultat hatte eine Anfrage bei MinoT, der die Sache „a good fish story“ 
nannte, „as we call tales, which are more wonderful than true“. 
Hoffentlich werden alle Leser des ,,Anzeigers“ mit mir sich über die 
Ergebnisse freuen, zu denen ich über die Sprache der Fische gelangt 
bin, sowie daß ich ungefährdet den deep sea monsters entrann, die in 
die Nähe meines 'laucherapparates kamen. 
Mit freundlichem Gruße 
Ihr A. KOELLIKER. 
Abgeschlossen am 24. Februar 1900. 
Frommannsche Buchdruckerei (Hermann Pohle) in Jena. 
