The Descent of Man

means the Trigla produces pure and longdrawn
sounds which range over nearly an octave.
But the most interesting case for us is that
of two species of Ophidium, in which the males
alone are provided with a sound-producing
apparatus, consisting of small movable bones,
with proper muscles, in connection with the
swim bladder. (41. 'Comptes-Rendus,' tom.
xlvi. 1858, p. 353; tom. xlvii. 1858, p. 916; tom.
liv. 1862, p. 393. The noise made by the Umbrinas
(Sciaena aquila), is said by some authors to
be more like that of a flute or organ, than
drumming: Dr. Zouteveen, in the Dutch translation
of this work (vol. ii. p. 36), gives some
further particulars on the sounds made by fishes.)
The drumming of the Umbrinas in the
European seas is said to be audible from a
depth of twenty fathoms; and the fishermen of
Rochelle assert "that the males alone make the
noise during the spawning-time; and that it is
possible by imitating it, to take them without
bait." (42. The Rev. C. Kingsley, in 'Nature,'