MUSIC LOVIXG REPTILES. 129 



days, but it grieved me to the heart to fmd that he thereby h).st 

 much delicious iat." 



That other members of the reptilian family are also keenly sen- 

 sitive to whistling music, and greatly pleased and soothed by it, 

 is evidenced by the following account which the author received 

 from his daughter. She says; ''Upon the college grounds at 

 Vassar, there is a small artificial lake which is utilized for boat- 

 ing in mild weather, and for skating in winter. It is well stocked 

 with turtles, varying in size from one to about nine inches in 

 length. It was common for the lady students to keep small 

 ones in their rooms as pets. Perceiving that the one I had thus 

 utilized and ''adoj)ted" had evidently an ear for certain kinds 

 of music, esjDCcially whistling, I was induced to try an experi- 

 ment upon other and larger turtles in the lake. The result far 

 exceeded my anticipations. Pushing out from the shore in my 

 little row boat, I could always, when so disposed, secure at once 

 at my whistling concerts for turtles, a numerous audience of all 

 sizes, from three to nine or more inches in length. They would 

 mount a log close to me, first one and then another taking its 

 place, until the sittings were all oecupied, and listen with wrapt 

 and pleased attention. While the whistling continued, they 

 turned their heads from side to side, and stretched them out 

 from their shells to the farthest possible extent, as if anxious to 

 see and hear to the uttermost. They would suffer me, at such 

 times, to handle them, and the music, if such I maybe permitted 

 to call it, appeared to produce a very quieting effect upon them. 

 They seemed intoxicated with what must have been to them a 

 new and strange pleasure. They would remain so long as I 

 would whistle, and jump off into the water when the whistling 

 stopped. They liked the soft sweet airs, and were frightened by 

 a lively tune, but I found that I could retain them as auditors 

 of the more spirited tunes if I first quieted them and secured 



