154 : Traces of a Voice in Fishes. | March, 
turnal species that I have had but few opportunities of observing 
closely, as it frequents rapidly running water and spends much 
the greater portion of its time under flat stones. On two oc- 
casions I have had opportunities of watching them, when paired, 
and thought that they uttered a peculiar sound, quite dissimilar 
to that of any other fish note I had heard, but it was unaccom- 
panied so far as I could determine by a chain of air bubbles - 
rising to the surface, such as always are seen to accompany the 
notes uttered by the chub-sucker or cat-fish. This same noise, or 
one very similar, was made by them when captured and taken 
from the water, and, in both instances, may have been involun- 
tary. From their peculiar anatomy, they are an exceedingly 
interesting species with reference to the subject of voice s0- 
called ; and I regret that my experience when keeping them in 
an aquarium did not confirm my suspicions when studying them 
in their proper habitat. When in an aquarium, I occasionally 
heard a prolonged buzzing sound that had many of the charac- 
teristics of what I have considered voice in other species, but it 
was too monotonous and protracted to be considered a voluntarily 
produced sound or vocal effort. If the more voice-like sounds 
heard, as mentioned, are characteristic of their breeding season, 
then it probably is strictly a “ love call,” and certainly, when 
paired, these fishes are exceedingly amorous. 
In all the instances so far mentioned of voluntarily expressed 
sounds or utterances of fishes, they have been referred to in con- 
nection with their ordinary breeding habits; not that they are 
never heard at other times, but because these ‘ calls” or 
“ songs,” or whatever they should be considered, are a marked 
feature of that season. In our common eel (Anguilla acutiros- 
tris) we have an instance of a fish possessing unmistakable ev! 
dences of voice, yet which may be said to have no breeding sea- 
son, at least when found far inland. Without inquiring into the 
still doubtfully determined breeding habits of the eel, it is suffi- 
cient here to say, that in countless thousands they pass from the 
sea up our rivers, and so, far inland through the most insignifi- 
cant brooks, and certainly often reach isolated ponds. From 
these ponds they seldom eseape. Here they grow to a large ais 
and live toa great age; yet summer after summer passes with- 
out any indication of their breeding. No species of fresh-water 
fish is more strictly nocturnal in its habits, and none are so easily 
studied, inasmuch as at night they are not only very active but 
keep continually near the surface. In the matter of voice, eels as 
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