Full Description

"In the matter of voice, eels utter a more distinctly musical sound than any other of those I have mentioned. It is a single note, frequently repeated, and has a slightly metallic resonance. I have heard this sound only at night, and never when the animal is taken from the water by day, as when captured by a hook, so that I presume it is not in- voluntary. When a large number of eels are congregated in a small space, as when feeding on some decayed animal, I have heard this note very frequently repeated, and from the volume of sound I judge that large eels utter only a note that is dis- tinetly audible. It is well known that this fish occasionally leaves the water voluntarily and wanders a considerable distance to other streams or ponds; and when through protracted droughts a pond becomes quite dry, while other fishes perish, the eels suf- fer little inconvenience, as, snake-like, they crawl at night over a considerable stretch of land, guided by some undetermined in- stinct to the nearest water. At such a time the eel will occa- sionally utter this same clear note, especially if surprised."

Observation Environment Quotes

"In the matter of voice, eels utter a more distinctly musical sound than any other of those I have mentioned. It is a single note, frequently repeated, and has a slightly metallic resonance. I have heard this sound only at night, and never when the animal is taken from the water by day, as when captured by a hook, so that I presume it is not in- voluntary. When a large number of eels are congregated in a small space, as when feeding on some decayed animal, I have heard this note very frequently repeated, and from the volume of sound I judge that large eels utter only a note that is dis- tinetly audible. It is well known that this fish occasionally leaves the water voluntarily and wanders a considerable distance to other streams or ponds; and when through protracted droughts a pond becomes quite dry, while other fishes perish, the eels suf- fer little inconvenience, as, snake-like, they crawl at night over a considerable stretch of land, guided by some undetermined in- stinct to the nearest water. At such a time the eel will occa- sionally utter this same clear note, especially if surprised."

Behaviour Description Quotes

"In the matter of voice, eels utter a more distinctly musical sound than any other of those I have mentioned. It is a single note, frequently repeated, and has a slightly metallic resonance. I have heard this sound only at night, and never when the animal is taken from the water by day, as when captured by a hook, so that I presume it is not in- voluntary. When a large number of eels are congregated in a small space, as when feeding on some decayed animal, I have heard this note very frequently repeated, and from the volume of sound I judge that large eels utter only a note that is dis- tinetly audible. It is well known that this fish occasionally leaves the water voluntarily and wanders a considerable distance to other streams or ponds; and when through protracted droughts a pond becomes quite dry, while other fishes perish, the eels suf- fer little inconvenience, as, snake-like, they crawl at night over a considerable stretch of land, guided by some undetermined in- stinct to the nearest water. At such a time the eel will occa- sionally utter this same clear note, especially if surprised."

Full Description

"The chub-sucker or mullet (Moxostoma oblongumn) is another example of those dull-colored, nocturnal fishes that frequent streams with muddy beds thickly overgrown with water plants, and which have the power of audibly forcing air from their bodies. In April, with a noticeable deepening of their colora- tion, there is increased activity in every movement, and, wholly unlike their actions by day, at night they swim quite near the surface, and utter a single prolonged note accompanied by a discharge of air-bubbles. ‘They appear to project their jaws just above the water, and force the air from beneath their gill-covers immediately below the surface, as there are two parallel streams of bubbles. When seen in the moonlight, these bubbles appear like minute silver beads. Swimming in this way, the mullet will often proceed a hundred yards, uttering their peculiar ‘call’ four or five times while passing over that distance."

Full Description

"Those who may be familiar with the common chub (Semotilus corporalis) will doubtless urge as an exception, that the peculiar grunting sounds made by this fish when taken from the water entitle it to a place among the list of species supposed to have a voice ; but I have not been able to detect this sound except at such a time, and as the fish is then out of water and struggling, it may be involuntary."

Behaviour Description Quotes

"Those who may be familiar with the common chub (Semotilus corporalis) will doubtless urge as an exception, that the peculiar grunting sounds made by this fish when taken from the water entitle it to a place among the list of species supposed to have a voice ; but I have not been able to detect this sound except at such a time, and as the fish is then out of water and struggling, it may be involuntary."

Sound Name Quotes

"Those who may be familiar with the common chub (Semotilus corporalis) will doubtless urge as an exception, that the peculiar grunting sounds made by this fish when taken from the water entitle it to a place among the list of species supposed to have a voice ; but I have not been able to detect this sound except at such a time, and as the fish is then out of water and struggling, it may be involuntary."

Full Description

"Concerning the first mentioned of our little list, the spineless perch, or “pirate” (Aphrodederus sayanus): my knowledge of its habits have been mostly derived from aquarial studies, but al- though the diminutive size of the very largest specimens ob- tained —-a little over four inches in length—rendered it very difficult to be certain that sound accompanied the expulsion of air from their bodies, I am almost sure I detected it, and the actions generally of the fish were such as to render it in a high degree probable that there was a sound heard by the female fishes of their kind."

Observation Environment Quotes

"Concerning the first mentioned of our little list, the spineless perch, or “pirate” (Aphrodederus sayanus): my knowledge of its habits have been mostly derived from aquarial studies, but al- though the diminutive size of the very largest specimens ob- tained —-a little over four inches in length—rendered it very difficult to be certain that sound accompanied the expulsion of air from their bodies, I am almost sure I detected it, and the actions generally of the fish were such as to render it in a high degree probable that there was a sound heard by the female fishes of their kind."

Full Description

"On the other hand the deep bronze and golden-green tints of the fresh-water bass, or ‘‘mud sunfish ”’ (Acantharcus pomotis), may be maintained to be a case of high coloration, and a sexual attraction ; and the same might be said of the land-locked gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), but the former of these has been most frequently of all fishes observed by me to voluntarily utter sounds when confined in an aqua- rium;"

"Not only in the muddy brooks where it is mostly found, but also when confined in an aquarium, this fish will utter at times a deep grunting sound that cannot be mistaken."

Observation Environment Quotes

"On the other hand the deep bronze and golden-green tints of the fresh-water bass, or ‘‘mud sunfish ”’ (Acantharcus pomotis), may be maintained to be a case of high coloration, and a sexual attraction ; and the same might be said of the land-locked gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), but the former of these has been most frequently of all fishes observed by me to voluntarily utter sounds when confined in an aqua- rium;"

"Not only in the muddy brooks where it is mostly found, but also when confined in an aquarium, this fish will utter at times a deep grunting sound that cannot be mistaken."

Sound Name Quotes

"Not only in the muddy brooks where it is mostly found, but also when confined in an aquarium, this fish will utter at times a deep grunting sound that cannot be mistaken."

Full Description

"Of that interesting fish, the land-locked “gizzard shad” (Dorosoma cepedianum), my observations have led to the detec- tion of a very audible, whirring sound, not unlike the deeper notes of a coarse string of an eolian harp. Those who may have noticed, at times, the vibrating thrill that arises from the wind passing over a number of telegraph wires, will have heard a sound nearly identical. I judge that both sexes utter this sound in concert; but if may be that during the early spring the sexes separate, to come together again some few weeks later, when spawning commences, and, in such a case, that only the males were “singing.”"

Full Description

"As representing the voiceless but highly tinted fishes, let us take the common sunfish (Pomotis vulgaris), and on the other hand the equally familiar cat-fish (Amiurus lynz) as an instance of a fish that has the power of uttering a sound, — that has the rudi- ments of a voice."

Full Description

"In the lamprey (Petromyzon nigricans) we have a semi-nocturnal 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 so- | 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."

Observation Environment Quotes

"In the lamprey (Petromyzon nigricans) we have a semi-nocturnal 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 so-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."

Behaviour Description Quotes

"In the lamprey (Petromyzon nigricans) we have a semi-nocturnal 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 so-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."

Sound Name Quotes

"In the lamprey (Petromyzon nigricans) we have a semi-nocturnal 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 so-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."