SOTTNDS munt) AT SEA. 22fl 



iDdefinablo sound, very sonorous and long sustained: 

 In that country, where the insect race is often very 

 troublesome, he thought at first that the sound 

 proceeded from insects of unusual dimensions. Failing 

 to discover anything of the kind in the air, or on the 

 sea, he questioned a man who was rowing by, and 

 was informed that the sound proceeded from a fish, 

 called by some the siren, by others the musician. 

 M. de Thoron, desirous that no other sound should 

 interrupt his enjoyment of this phenomenon, re- 

 quested the boatman to rest on his oars. All around 

 a multitude of sounds rose from the sea, forming the 

 most singular concert it is possible to imagine ; the 

 undertone of a church organ heard at a considerable 

 distance might be said to resemble it. The concert 

 commenced at sunset, and continued all through the 

 night. The presence of auditors, M. de Thoron ob- 

 serves, did not seem in the least to intimidate this 

 new species of choristers. 



They build, they feast, they make love, they steal ; 

 they live in captivity, in freedom, or are enslaved in 

 the ocean. As Fredol says, " There is joy in its waves, 

 there is happiness on its shores, there is a pervading 

 bliss throughout all !" Animal life displayed in the 

 most opposed forms, the most grotesque organisa- 

 tions, appears in greater beauty than on the withered 

 earth. Tribes of living creatures rejoice incessantly 



