The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-02
Love of Musical Sounds in Animals.

Dogs nave very frequently dlSplaVeQ
considerable appreciation for music
An instance or two of the kind has very
lately come under my own observation.
Both of the facts which furnish the ma
terials ofthis anecdote occur repeatedly,
one of them nightly, i'll the winter sea-
son. For as the moderator lamp is
lighted and placed on the sitting-room
table, large dog of the water-spaniel
breed usually jumps up and curls him
self round the lamp. He never upsets
it, but remains perfectly still. Now,
my friend is very musical, but during
the time the piano is being played upon,
the dog remains perfectly unmoved, un-
til a particular piece is played. He
will not take the slightest notice of loud
or soft pieces, neither sentimental nor
comic, but instantly the old tune enti-
tied 'Drops of Brandy" is played, he
invariably raises his head and begins to
howl most piteously, relapsing into his
usual state of lethargy as soon as this
tune is stopped. Ny friend cannot ac-
count for this action of the dog in any
way, nor can he learn from any source
the reason of its dislike Again, the
wife Of hotel-keeper lately deceased,
who resided in Leicester square, pos
sessed pet lap-dog which delighted
in listening to its mistress playing on
the piano if the usual hour for her dali
ly practice passed by, the dog would
grow impatient, snap and bark, and be
perfectly uneasy until the lady consent
ed to crafty its wishes by sitting down
to the instrument and playing few
tunes. During this operation the dog
would sit motionless on a chair by her
side, and when the music was ended he
would jump down, quite satisfied for
that day. know a cat which farmer
in Sussex had for some years, which
showed the same appreciation for mu-
sic. The farmers son was extremely
fond Of this cat, and generally allowed
her to sit upon his knee during meal
times and in the evening, this young
man perpetually whistled one tune only.
1t certainly must have made lasting
impression upon the cat, for the young
man emigrated to Australia and died
but FIVE years afterward (and I have
this story OH the authority of the old
farmer himself) lady came upon
played over various tunes, and ut last,
accidentally, the very tune the farmers
son used to whistle to the cat. The eff
feet was wonderful and instantaneous
puss rose up from the rug on the hearth,
stretched herself, and, in state of the
widest excitement, jumped about the
room until she alighted upon the piano
itself and ended her strange conduct by
rolling upon the keys, and purring loud
" with delight meanwhile. The action
Of the eat brought to the old mans re-
membrance his lost Australian son. and
quite overpowered him with grief for
the time. DR.. Wesley, Of Chapel Roy
al, had spider which showed a like
love of musical sounds. Directly the
piano WAS opened and any one commen-
ced tc play, a spider would invariably |
descend from the ceiling, and hover over
the instrument Us long as it was used
and when the performance was ended,
1T would reascend to its crack in the
ceiling. If the piano was opened sever
al times in the evening, the same effect
would be produced ON the spider This
for some months, until a new
one morning swept away
the insect. knew the same pleasure
experienced by donkey whenever a
was played. 1t was discov-
cred by accident, but was utilised by
.he animals master For the donkey
was accustomed to browse in q meadow
which opened into q coppice, and dur
ng the hot weather, probably to avoid
,he flies, the animal used to wander
nto this coppice, where, on account of
he thickness of the brushwood, it was
'ather difficult task to discover him
when wanted. Having found that the
animal was fond of music-though how
he secret was first made known I can
lot tel1-instead of beginning a long {
earch for him, a concertina was brought !
ut Of the honse and played upon, when t
few minutes, out of the coppice
would come the donkey, racing along, /
With tail erect, and braying melodious- ?
y meanwhile; he would then allow $
lmself to be saddled. f