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Show Tests Made at Biological Station Prove Fish Will Respond to Sounds At the Plymouth biological station, writes E. O. Bonleuger, director Zoological Zo-ological society's aquarium, In the London Sunday Observer, efforts were made some years ago to ascertain whether fish could be trained to associate as-sociate the notes of an electric buzzer with the depositing of food In one particular place. The "dining room" In this instance was a large box, and after a few trials with the buzzer, one particular cod so closely and accurately accurate-ly connected the box with food whether the buzzer was working or not that it took up permanent residence resi-dence there. In public aquaria the visitor Is sometimes Impressed by the sudden activity shown by the exhibitors when an attendant stationed in the public corridor blows a whistle or sounds a gong Just before the tank Inmates are fed. The visitor, however, forgets that the fish have a very keen eyesight and that the appearance of an attendant attend-ant in the service gallery. Invisible, of course, to the onlooker, acts as a very potent appetizer and causes the lively demonstration. The association of food with a whistle or gong Is a very effective illusion but an Illusion all the same. The late Professor Eateman concluded conclud-ed from certain experiments conducted conduct-ed at a research station that most fishes were deaf and took no notice of even a loud report or the shock of an explosion. G. H. Parker In America and Bigelow and Zennick In Germany, came, however, to different conclusions. conclu-sions. These experimenters became satisfied satis-fied that certain fish showed evidence of the perception of sound. They found that some responded to the notes produced by a tuning fork. |