STBANQE SOUNDS AT SEA. 



285 



Very curious are the statements regarding what have 

 been called " musical " fish, but how far such a title is war- 

 ranted is doubtful. It is known that many fishes, notwith- 

 standing their being characterized as mute, are remarkable 

 for giving utterance to a peculiar sound called " drumming.'^ 

 This is very perceptible in the famous Maigre of the Medi- 

 terranean, the Umhrina of the Romans, a fish which swims in 

 groups, and often utters a low bellowing sound beneath the 

 water, which is heard from a depth of one hundred and 

 twenty feet, and is rendered stronger by placing the ear 

 upon the gunwale of the boat. 



Lieutenant White of the U. S. Navy, in his " Voyage to 

 the China Seas,'' published in 1824, relates that being at the 

 mouth of the Cambodia, his crew and himself were ex- 

 tremely astonished by hearing certain unaccountable sounds 

 from beneath and around the vessel. These were various, 

 like the bass notes of an organ, the sound of bells, the croak- 

 ing of frogs, and a pervading twang which the imagination 

 might have attributed to the vibrations of some enormous 

 harp. For a time the mysterious music swelled upon them, 

 and finally formed a universal chorus all around ; but as the 

 vessel ascended the river, the sounds diminished in strength, 

 and soon altogether ceased. 



Humboldt was witness to a similar fact in the South Sea, 

 but without suspecting the cause. Towards seven in the 

 evening the whole crew were astounded by an extraordinary 

 noise, which resembled that of drums which were beating in 

 the air. It was at first attributed to the breakers. Speedily 

 it was heard in the vessel, and especially towards the poop. 

 It was like a boiling, the noise of the air which escapes 



