Week of 2007-03-17 17:00 to 2007-03-24 16:59

I love editors who get a little crazy writing teaser copy for scientific news stories. From this already great story (which didn’t need the extra-crispy pimping) on the BBC Science/Nature site, “Monkeys’ stone percussion studied”, the editor said,

Research in Brazil has produced fresh evidence that primates may have something approaching human “culture”.

The story definitely stands on its own. Capuchin monkeys in Brazil, alerting their fellows by using percussive “instruments” — banging stones to warn off predators.

The use of stone technology in foraging for food is well known in non-human primates; monkeys will use rocks to crack open nuts.

But this may be the first time they have been seen using stones to create a noise to keep predators away, and warn one another of potential danger.

What’s even better is that this skill is apparently functioning as a sort of capuchin cultural phenomenon or “social tradition” as one scientist puts it.

I always find it intensely fascinating reading of musical or music-like behavior in animals. There are well-known examples, of course, among birds, cetaceans, and others. This primate behavior is yet another example, to me anyhow, of the potential sense ingrained in seemingly all species, an inherent sense of the basic elements that make up music.

Maybe it’s the beating heart.

A Discovery News article today has the story of nuthatches that have apparently learned to interpret the calls of another bird, the chickadee.

It’s not unusual for one animal to react to the alarm call of another, but nuthatches seem to go beyond that — interpreting the type of alarm and what sort of predator poses a threat. When a chickadee sees a predator, it issues warning call — a soft “seet” for a flying hawk, owl or falcon, or a loud “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” for a perched predator.

There is some question about the methodology of the study that reached these conclusions, but whatever the case it looks to warrant further investigation.

One orinthologist commenting on the story mentioned a sneaky tactic by one variety of chickadee:

…black-capped chickadees have been known to produce false alarm calls, causing other birds to fly away, leaving the cheating chickadees to enjoy a food source by itself.

Smart birds. :)

One of our local newspapers has a weekly feature called “One hundred years ago in Redlands”, with notable selections from its archives. Some are straightforward but revealing of the period, some are thought-provoking, others are tragic or simply saddening.

Among the best are items like this one from yesterday. Why can’t newspaper articles be written like this anymore? :)

From the Redlands Daily Facts:

MARCH 21 [1907]

That the application of the Golden Rule does not always pay is the conclusion that two local society matrons have come to after a harrowing experience a few days ago. They were walking down State street behind a handsomely dressed woman, who sailed along with the serene self-consciousness of a perfectly adjusted toilette, when one of our friends noticed that her skirt was not properly fastened in the back, and displayed an unexpected expanse of white petticoat.

She drew the attention of her companion to the fact and said: “Don’t you think we ought to tell her before anyone else notices it?” The other in rather a doubtful tone answered: “Yes; but she might not like to be told.” “But,” persisted number one, “shouldn’t you want to know if it were your case? I am sure I should take it as a personal kindness.” “Perhaps so,” assented number two, “but you must take the responsibility of speaking, for I fear that I am a moral coward.” “Well,” urged our tender-hearted little matron, who had first spoken, “I should feel that I had neglected a Christian duty if she should become the subject of unpleasant observation, and I will take my chances.”

So, as the object of their solicitude turned to go into a store, our little friend followed and gently tapping her on the shoulder said: “Excuse me, madam, but if you will allow me, I will fasten a hook in your skirt.” Judge, if you can, the feelings of that brave little woman, when the person addressed turned upon her with a haughty, icy glare and said in a deep contralto voice: “How dare you insult me in such a manner,” and sailed down the aisle with stately tread, leaving our two friends in a state of mental collapse and gasping for breath, feeling as if they had broken every commandment in the decalogue.