92 
FIRST CLASS OF THE VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 
the lower animals are ag^ltaicd. Tlins, wc can readily distingiiisli the cry of rage* 
when an animal threatens his prey ; that of distress in the unfortunate victim ; the 
amorous cry of one sex for the other ; the rallying cry of the female, when she 
wishes to a.ssemble her young ones around her; the bursts of resentment; and in 
some species, even a cry of gratitude towards Man. 
The larynx of the Apes greatly resembles that of Man in many respects ; yet in 
those species which approach most nearly to him in organi^^ation, there arc found 
membraneous sacs of a greater or less extent, where the air becomes stifled, and 
hence they arc rendered incapable of producing any other than hoarse and inarti- 
culate sounds. The large Apes of Africa, such as the Mandrills, merely emit a 
low sound, resembling aow, aout pronounced in the throat, and never very loud. 
Animals of the genera Cereopithecus and Macacos utter verr sharp and disagreeable 
l ies. The Apes of the South American Continent, belonging to the genus Mycetes, 
Aavc received from travellers the appellation of Howlers. These unite together in 
•oops, and each Ape uiters a continuous howl, which can be beard for at least a mile 
i every direction. For this purpose, they are supplied with a laryngeal apparatus 
-f a remarkable appearance. Their lower jaw has its branches very distant from each 
ther and much elevated, for the purpose of receiving a bony drum in the interval 
vhich separates them. The extremity of this organ is marked externally by a line 
icross the skin of the throat, it being nothing more than the hyoid bone greatly eu-» 
irged and rendered hollow. This drum is the chief cause, in the Howlers, of the 
jrightful noises which are re-echoed continually through the forests of those remote 
regions. The Sapajous also, from South America, merely utter a soft sonorous cry, 
for which reason they have beeji called creeping Monhies by some traveUers. 
The \ar;cd Lemur makes, it is said, a great noise in the woods of Madagascar ; how- 
ever, the other species of this genus only emit a low r.nd continuous grunt when in 
confinement. 
The Bats, as well as the Shrews and other Insectivora, have no other voice than 
a very sharp and feeble cry. 
The sound of the Bear is a growl, or loud murmur, often intermingled with the 
gnashing of his teeth. That of the Kinkajou {Ccrcoleptes')^ when alone at night, 
resembles the barking of a very small Dog, and always beginning with a kind of 
sneeze. On being injured, its cry changes to the note of a young Pigeon. When 
threatened, it hisses like a Goose, and if irritated, utters a notsv and confused cry. 
The Badgers and Weasels, whether Martens or Polecats, always walk in silence, until 
they meet with some injury, when they emit a sharp and hoarse cry, expressive of 
resentment or pain. 
The yelpitjg of the Fox consists of a kind of bai*king howl, which forms tlic proper 
cry of that animal. It is chiefly in winter, especially during frost and snow, that the 
Foxes yelp, at which season their cry becomes further distinguished by a sharper and 
more elevated tone of voice. The howling of Wolves, and of many other Carnivorous 
animals, is a mournfbl and prolonged cry, which they utter eitiicr when pressed by 
famine or transported with desire. It is more especially during the night that the 
Wolves howl, and remarkably so in the long nights of winter. The Dog, on losing 
his master, utters a melancholy and plaintive noise, which U in fact a kind of howl. 
The barking of Ibis animal is better known than the cry of any other species. An 
attentive oar can distinguish the bark of pleasure on again meeting his master; the 
bark of pain when vrounded or struck; and that of joy when playing with other animals 
of his own kind. Those varieties commonly called Watch-dogs are generally silent 
during the day, but bark more especially at night. When a pack of hounds are in 
pursuit of any animal, it is easy to tell, froir the different modulations of their cries, 
at what point the hunt has arrived. 
The sound of the Ilyajna, when at large in the woods, has been compared by some 
Katuralists to that of a iMan when vomiting with great difficulty. In the Menagerie, 
however, this animal emits a cry of that kind only when irritated, at which time it 
is also accompanied by a sound expressive of resentment, very similar to that used by 
other Carnassiers on the same occasion. In the mewing, or rather the miauling of the 
Cats, it is very easy to distinguish the attracting cries of the females ; the cries of pain 
with which they repel the approaches of the males ; and the low and soft sounds with 
which they invite their young ones to follow them. The males, during their noctur- 
nal combats, interrupt the silence of the midnight hour with their noisy sounds, pre- 
ceded or followed by smothered hisses and growls more or less prolonged. When 
these animals arc at their ease, especially when warm and after a repast, they pro- 
duce a continual noise or /jwrr, similar to that of a spinning-wheel when in motion, 
which sound is due to a peculiar formation of tlie larynx. 
'1 he roar of the Lion and Tiger is a frightful and imposing cry. The former con- 
sists of prolonged and rather grave sounds, intermingled with others of a sharper 
tone, and a kind of tremor, and is susceptible of numerous variations, according to 
the age, .sex, as well as the passions which animate the Lions. AU African travel- 
lers ^ree in representing the deep terror \\hich suddenly seizes the other animals, 
ami especially Horses, when, in the depths of the forests, they hoar this dreadful 
cry around them. The roar of the Tiger is also very powerful and continuous for 
four or five minutes ; that of the female is more plaintive, Ic&s interrupted, and of a 
much longer duration. According to Azara, the roar of the Jaguar may be repre- 
8eTit(?d by the words Aown, houa. There is something plaintive in it, and, at the same 
time, strong and grave, like the lowing of a Bull , while that of the Panthers, with 
w hich liie Jaguar has often been confounded, resembles the noise of a saw. 
The voice of the adult Seals may be compared to that of a hoarse Dog. The cry 
of the young is much clearer, approaching more nearly to the mewing of the Cat. 
Oil sej»arating the young from their mothers, the former miaulc continually; while 
the old ones bark furiouslv at those who molest them, and use every exertion bv 
biting to avenge the loss of their oiTspring. When attacked by Man, the .Morses low* 
in a most dreadful manner. 
AU the Marsupialia, with which we am acquainted, appear to pos‘-.ess merely 
a low and feeble voice; but the sounds emitted by many of them still remain un- 
known. 
J he Rodentia in general emit no other sound than a whistle. The common 
Squirrel, as well as the Palm Squirrel, has a strong voice ; and these aninials emit a 
kind of murmur* or grumble of discontent, with t!ie mouth shut, on being irritated. 
The Strlatetl Squirrel, ami the Pteromys or Flying Squirrel, when unmolested, appear 
to have no kind of voice, but in other circumstance?, they utter a cry like tho scream 
of a Rat, The Marmot and Bobac, when playing or being caressed, have the voice 
and murmur of a young Dog; but on being irritated cr frightened, they utter a 
whistle so shrill and piercing as to oITeml the oar. According to Erxleben, the sound 
of the Hamster is a kind of bark. The Carapagnol Water-rdt, when pursued so that 
ho cannot escape, makes a cry resembling a snore. The Gninca-pigs have a grunt 
similar to that of a young sucking Pig, and a kind of purring noise when pleased ; 
their cry expressive of pain is very acute. The Agoutis and Pacas have also a grunt 
like that of a Pig, while the Cabiai brays like an Ass. The voice of the Rat-moles 
is merely a snore. The Ondatras make a kind of groaning, which is especially remark- 
able in tho females. The Siberian Jerboas, when irritated, have a cry similar to that 
of a young Dog just bom, and sometimes a kind of snore, whilst the Common Jerboa 
raises a sharp cry. The Hares and Rabbits pass their lives in silence, and cry only 
when wounded or tormented; on these occasions, tho former of these amimals emits 
a sound which bears some resemblance to the human voice. The note of the .‘Vlpinc 
Hare {Lagomys Alpinus) is a simple and acute whistle, much resembling the cry of 
a young bird; while that of the Calling Haro (L. pvsillus')^ another species of the 
same genus, is a very strong and grave note, somewhat similar to tliat of a Quail. 
This voice is composed of simple sounds, but repeated at equal intervals, three, four, 
and often six times, and it can often be distinguished at the distance of half-a-mile, 
although the animal which produces it is of very small dimensions. Finally, tho 
Porcupine has a grunt similar to that of a Pig, from which circumstance it has in 
part derived it? name. 
Among the Edentata, one animal has received the name of from its cry; in the 
same manner as one of the Rodentia has been assigned the name of Ayt-ayc. The 
Cnau or fwo-toed ^loth, which belongs, like the Ai, to the genus Bradypus, cries 
very rarely. Its note is brief, am! is never repeated twice consecutively. Although 
plaintive, it boars, however, no resemblance to that of the Ai. It is not known 
whether the Ant-eaters, tho animals belonging to tlie genera Manis, Oryctcropus, 
Echidna, and Ornithorhynchus, have any peculiarity in their voice. 
Tho ordinary cry of the Elephant is a grunt, which he changes into a whistling 
noi«e when irritated. The appellation of River-horse, applied to the Hippopotamus, 
derives its origin from the neighing noise made by this animal ; its cry of pain is a 
kind of lowing, which bears much analogy to that of the Buffalo. The Rhinoceroses 
emit a grunting noise, somewhat resembling that of the wild Boar and domestic Pig ; 
that is to say, a series of hoarse, short, and rough sounds, following each other at 
short intervals of time. The Tapirs have no other cry than a sharp whistle, which 
might not have been expected from an animal of its magnitude. The Daman has 
only a very feeble cry* and of short duration. 
The Camels and Dromedaries are commonly silent, if we except the period of t}»« 
rutting season, at which time they emit a very disagreeable rattling noise in the 
throat. The voice of the Lamas appears to be a gentle moaning like the word 
/le-cm, pronounced in the tone of voice of a complaining female ; and some interval of 
time usually elapses before the animals repeat this sound. The Stags during the rutting 
season emit their rough bellow ; it is a hoarse and disagreeable sound, which reaches 
to a great distance. The Antelopes, the Goats, and Sheep, bleat ; and it is remarked, 
that the bleating of the Rams is stroTigf*r and grayer than that of the young, the 
Ewes, or the Wethers. It has also been observed, that the bleating of the Goat 
is shorter than that of the Sheep ; and that all these animaU, when domesticated, are 
most clamorous on leaving the stable for the fields, and in tho evening on their return. 
The greater part of the animals belonging to the Bull genus low or bellow ; that is 
to say, they emit a very grave, powerful, prolonged sound. There is one exception, 
however, in the Yak, which grunts like a Pig. On this account it has been called 
the Grunting Bull or Cow (Bos gnmniens). The Zebu, which is usually considered 
as a simple variety of tho common Bull, grunts likewise, which circumstance, accord- 
ing to M. Desmai'cst, renders it probable that il should be regarded rather as a va- 
riety of the Yak. 'I he voice of the Buffalo is u frightful bellow, much more forcible 
and clamorous than that of the Bull. 
Tho neighing of the Horse is emitted whenever bo experiences any vivid sensa- 
tion, or is animated by some passion. He utters this cry alike when inspired by 
courage, pride, or desire; and neighs in tho battle as if courting danger; or during 
the race, as though he defied his rivals to the contest. The braying of the A?s 
is a well known discordant sound, which it emits when pressed by any want, or in- 
spired by passion. 
Finally, the Cetacea, on happening to run aground, signify their consciousness of 
danger by uttering a very strong howl, with but few repetitions. 
The voice of the Mammalia is not always confined to the simple purpose of ex- 
pressing externally the interior or moral slate of the individual ; it is also occasional- 
ly employed as a means of preserving the species. While the Marmots are feeding 
on herbs in some elevated meadow of the Alps, one of them placed on a rock survey* 
in security all the others; and this advanced sentinel gives notice to Ins companions 
on the approach of an enemy by a loud whistle, which is tho signal for immediate 
flight. In the same way the Wild Horses collect together in a dense troop, as soon 
as some of them, on being apprised of the danger, give notice of their fear by a pecu- 
liar neigh. Tho voice also serves to attract the sexes during the rutting season. 
At this period it usually changes its nature, as wo may remark in the Stags, whose 
throats swell, and impart a graver tone to their cries. The peculiar sounds of the 
carnivorous animals further serve as a warning note to the feebler quadrupeds, 
may thus contribute indirectly towards the preservation of the latter. 
It can be readily perceived from the preceding observations, that the greater part of 
the Mammalia are generally Incapable of producing any other sounds than such as are 
cither noisy or disagreeable. Yet after having once heard cac.li particular noise, 
can easily recognise these animals by their respective cries. The variety of sounds 
so great, that it often becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to convey, by 
torm of words, an adequate idea of the peculiar sensations which many of them oc- 
casion. 
