MUSICAL FISHES. 221 



and lie brings together a variety of evidence in proof of the 

 opinion that such piscine vocalists do really exist. Sir Emerson 

 Tennant, Dr. Buist, and other persons who have actually heard 

 the performance are brought forward as witnesses ; and from 

 the accounts they give it would appear that in all probability 

 there are several species of fish that are gifted with these vocal 

 powers. One of them is described as producing a sound like the 

 gentle thrills of a musical chord, or the faint vibrations of a wine- 

 glass when its rim is rubbed with a wet finger, not one sustained 

 note, but a multitude of tiny sounds, each clear and distinct in 

 itself, the sweetest treble mingling with the lowest bass. An- 

 other is said to make long, distinct sounds like the protracted 

 booming of a distant bell, the dying cadence of an .^Colian harp, 

 the note of a pitch-pipe or pitch-fork, or any long drawn-out 

 musical note. A third species produces a loud, monotonous, 

 singing sound, which rises and falls and sometimes dies away, or 

 assumes a low, drumming character. 



There is obviously no lack of variety in the vocal accom- 

 plishments of these oriental fish ; and if the Zoological Society 

 would only set to in earnest to procure a good chorus of them, it 

 would not only put an end to the scepticism with which some 

 old-fashioned people still persist in regarding the story, but 

 afford to the world a new musical entertainment of a character 

 that no one had ever dreamt of before. 



On the banks of one of the ponds devoted to the Water-fowl 

 we come across a fine specimen of that little aquatic beauty, the 

 Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), which, decked out in his 

 bridal attire, is sitting placidly amongst the grass while Mr. 

 Wolf or one of his brother-artists takes his portrait. It is well 

 worth taking, for this bird is the very prince of ducks, and is 

 celebrated for the elegance and conspicuous beauty of its plu- 

 mage. It is the male alone, however, which is thus adorned, and 

 in this respect it affords a capital illustration of that almost uni- 

 versal law of nature, that when in the matter of adornment 

 there is any difference at all between the sexes, the gaiety and 

 show is all on the part of the males. In respect to the Man- 

 darin Duck this difference is very obvious, for while the lady is 

 plain and unadorned to a fault, the gentleman comes out in flam- 

 ing colours, and is the observed of all observers. But let there 

 be no mistake about it ; this resplendent livery fs put on after 



