music, sweet music

November 1, 2005 1:23 PM

Mouse serenade: Tim Holy and Zhongsheng Guo at Washington University School of Medicine in Missouri discover the songs of mice. Published at the Public Library of Science, Biology, (non newsie, science article). Examples of the singing, 1- shifted down 4 octaves, timing intact (MP3 file) and, 2 - shifted down 4 octaves and slowed down 16 fold. (MP3 file) (partially via)
posted by edgeways (17 comments total)

Neato! I wish I could bet money on the proposition that animal behavior will continue to surprise us with its depth and complexity.
posted by freebird at 1:39 PM on November 1, 2005

I am afraid to play those MP3s, because I know that I currently have a mouse in my house. Although... maybe if I play them near the mousetraps...
posted by five fresh fish at 1:44 PM on November 1, 2005

Ha ha.. I had forgotten that winamp was playing, so when I listened to the first mouse mp3 I was thinking "Wow, but why has it been put over Take Me To The River?"

I'm an idiot, clearly.

Cool post though - I wanted to post this put I couldn't find any links to the recordings.
posted by Lotto at 1:54 PM on November 1, 2005

Excellent. Thank you!
posted by dobbs at 1:55 PM on November 1, 2005

Cute, but I'm still going to put a trap out to break their warbling little necks if they stray into my flat and eat my bagels.
posted by Flitcraft at 1:57 PM on November 1, 2005

I had forgotten that winamp was playing, so when I listened to the first mouse mp3 I was thinking "Wow, but why has it been put over Take Me To The River?"

This would have been pretty ironic.

(Free link to a good Mouse on Mars song there. Har, har.)
posted by spiderwire at 1:59 PM on November 1, 2005

Wow, it sounds *so much* like birdsong. Strange.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 2:00 PM on November 1, 2005

I moved into my apartment 2 years ago come January 1. Since then I have killed over 150 mice in my apartment. It is mouse hell. I have heard the mousies singing each to each. I do not think they sing for me. They hold squaredances in the middle of my kitchen floor. My dog doesn't even look at them anymore.

I used to think they were cute. I no longer think so.
posted by MotherTucker at 2:05 PM on November 1, 2005

MotherTucker: Er, maybe you need to get the professionals in? Though having said that, I would *love* to see mousie squaredances.
posted by Lotto at 2:15 PM on November 1, 2005

*drops wooden mallets*
posted by shinji_ikari at 2:19 PM on November 1, 2005

Wow, those recordings really mess with my dog.
posted by gurple at 2:40 PM on November 1, 2005

My cats think they're very interesting, too.
posted by wadefranklin at 2:56 PM on November 1, 2005

I have heard the mousies singing each to each. I do not think they sing for me.

Favorite thing I've read today on MeFi.
posted by freebird at 2:59 PM on November 1, 2005

Now that's really interesting to hear. I wonder whether your canine/feline are interested because they have a generic template for all animal songs.
posted by metaculpa at 3:00 PM on November 1, 2005

Mothertucker: do you dare? Do you dare?

(and yes, thanks for the laugh)
posted by malaprohibita at 3:24 PM on November 1, 2005

I have heard the mousies singing each to each. I do not think they sing for me.

Maybe you should try rolling up your pants.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 5:16 PM on November 1, 2005

"I am afraid to play those MP3s, because I know that I currently have a mouse in my house." - Not I

I read a wonderful book once, of a woman who in the early '60s studied in Pakistan with a Sufi saint.

In one anomalous incident - for the tone of the book - the saint cast a demon from a posessed man.

The saint told the demon that - if it reinfested the man - he'd burn the creature and all of its family. To ashes. Perhaps spiritual ashes.

In the end this turned out to be a species loyalty issue, meaning : we all must draw a line somewere. Or perish.


So, I am merciless to mice. They gnaw wiring.
posted by troutfishing at 9:31 PM on November 1, 2005