Chap. III.—B. S.l 
MODERN SIRENS. 
35 
at his suggestion, by two young Englishmen for the 
purpose of gaining some knowledge of a hostile tribe 
of Indians, could not start, because their companions, 
fearing a repetition of the sad fate that had befallen 
previous expeditions, refused to go. 
Those who believe in Sirens, and who that has gone 
through the classics would be bold enough to say he 
does not, may be glad to learn that the ancient mari¬ 
ners were not the only ones favoured by their song. 
All along the West Coast of Central America there 
are localities, where, during calm weather, sweet musical 
sounds are heard, not unlike those produced by _ZEo- 
lian harps, and proceeding from the depths of the 
ocean. New-comers fancy that these strains, now 
almost inaudible, now becoming louder and more dis¬ 
tinct, are snatches of tunes played by some band on 
shore, and wafted along by the wind. The natives, 
however, know better than to delude themselves by 
thinking that distance would ever lend such charms to 
the noises which they made with their musical instru¬ 
ments as ever to be mistaken for the sounds here 
spoken of; and, rather than shine in borrowed plumes, 
ascribe them to the agency of a fish. Some scientific 
men, with whom I have conversed about this pheno¬ 
menon, hold that it is due to electricity; whilst, 
again, others think,— 
“ J Tis but the rolling wave, 
Ever its lone course winging over some ocean cave 
and in the opinion that u ’tis but the noise of water ” 
on oceanic caves in this volcanic region, I am inclined to 
D 2 
