16 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
with vocal powers, while the birds are especially 
gifted in such respect, many of them being 
experts at warbling and singing. Even among 
the reptiles we find that frogs, toads, certain 
snakes and lizards can produce vocal sounds; 
and quite a number of the fish, as well as many 
of the invertebrates, can give voice to various 
calls. 
To the popular imagination the roar of a 
lion is probably the most imposing sound 
uttered by any wild beast, but we are told by 
travellers and explorers that the roar of a 
gorilla is of a far more formidable nature, 
Du Chailla describing it as the most singular 
and awful noise to be heard in the African 
forests, and one that “ literally and closely 
resembles the roll of distant thunder.” 
The chimpanzee is another of the large apes 
that is able to produce a great volume of 
sound with its voice, and many of my readers 
may remember “ Sally ” who lived at the 
Zoological Gardens a number of years back, 
where she earned considerable fame by the 
intelligent manner in which she would perform 
tricks. One of her accomplishments was to 
“ sing ” at the command of her keeper, and 
although the noise she gave rise to when thus 
engaged was but a succession of yells and 
piercing cries that became louder and louder 
