MUSIC LOVING REPTILES. 129 
days, but it grieved me to the heart to find that he thereby lost 
much delicious fat.” 
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 skatingin 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 ‘‘ adopted” had evidently an ear for certain kinds 
of music, especially 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 occupied, 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 may be 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 
