measurement of sounds from the gryllus assimilis
Date: 1937
Inventory Number: 1998-1-0951f
Classification: Chart
Subject:
Maker: George Washington Pierce (1872 - 1956)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
0.3 x 52 x 39 cm (1/8 x 20 1/2 x 15 3/8 in.)
in envelope: 0.5 x 40 x 53 cm (3/16 x 15 3/4 x 20 7/8 in.)
Description:
This is a chart measuring the sounds made by the gryllus assimilis, the field cricket. Pierce made many sound recordings of this species, supplemented by motion picture studies. In the process, Pierce found two distinct classes of songs: the common song and the courtship song. The common song has up to seven multipulse chirps, often heard by the human ear as a single chirp (Pierce 92-97).
The courtship song of the male gryllus assimilis was also recorded by Pierce, when the male G. assimilis was "dancing and making fantastic maneuvers in the presence of a female in the same cage." The courtship song consists of an irregular string of short pulses sung at a very high pitch, and heard more rarely than the common song (Pierce 97-98). Pierce notes on this chart that he has recorded this song, since he inscribes the words "sex dance" onto the twenty-first strip. It seems as if he is comparing and contrasting the courtship song with the common song in this chart.
The courtship song of the male gryllus assimilis was also recorded by Pierce, when the male G. assimilis was "dancing and making fantastic maneuvers in the presence of a female in the same cage." The courtship song consists of an irregular string of short pulses sung at a very high pitch, and heard more rarely than the common song (Pierce 97-98). Pierce notes on this chart that he has recorded this song, since he inscribes the words "sex dance" onto the twenty-first strip. It seems as if he is comparing and contrasting the courtship song with the common song in this chart.
Signedunsigned
Inscribedetched into strip one: Gryllis #2 4800/ Aug 31 37
etched into strip six: illus #1 5000/ Aug 31 37
etched into strip twenty-one: Gryllus #2 sex dance 5200/ Aug 31 37
etched into strip six: illus #1 5000/ Aug 31 37
etched into strip twenty-one: Gryllus #2 sex dance 5200/ Aug 31 37
Historical AttributesGeorge Washington Pierce first became interested in this insect-chirping project because he was a physics professor at Harvard, and a sub-branch of physics is acoustics. He took a leave of absence from Harvard during WWI to engage in studies of acoustics for the Submarine and Anti-Submarine bases of the US Navy in 1917-1918. He also gave graduate courses in radio communication and acoustic signaling (which involves the production, transmission, and reception of sound signal in air and also water)
(Pierce, 7).
Pierce had an elaborate process for collecting and recording insect noises. The insect sounds were initially detected through a "sound receiver," to detect insect location in field. Then, the insect was observed by Pierce through a lens, captured in a net, carried to a lab, and classified (Pierce, 12-27). The insect's musical sounds recorded by a portable field apparatus with a loudspeaker, at the end of an amplifier box, which incorporated a method of making a record of the pulsations on moving tape (Pierce, 23). These pulsations are inscribed on the white strips with red markings seen on the matte board.
(Pierce, 7).
Pierce had an elaborate process for collecting and recording insect noises. The insect sounds were initially detected through a "sound receiver," to detect insect location in field. Then, the insect was observed by Pierce through a lens, captured in a net, carried to a lab, and classified (Pierce, 12-27). The insect's musical sounds recorded by a portable field apparatus with a loudspeaker, at the end of an amplifier box, which incorporated a method of making a record of the pulsations on moving tape (Pierce, 23). These pulsations are inscribed on the white strips with red markings seen on the matte board.
Curatorial RemarksThe tape of the sounds is coming off the chart.
Primary SourcesGeorge Washington Pierce, The Songs of Insects (1948, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press).