New-York tribune., 1880-02-29
MUSICAL TASTE IN ANIMALS.
From ChamLers's Journal.


remarkable instance OF n tOad'S enjoyment OF
music came under my notice some years since. |
was visit with my husband and one Of my
daughters to my father who lived IN the south of
England. He had very pretty garden and lawn !;
and IT his delight in the evening to sit at his
drawing room window while played on the piano
and sang TO him. One evening he said 10 me ;
"My dear, here is toad under the window. 1t has
been here long time without moving. believe 1t
is listening 10 yOuT singing"
When ceased playing, the toad slowly crept
away ; but every evening when sang, the creature
came, took its place under the window, and there
renamed. One evening, az my iathcrs request
| suddenly stopped the music, and In n few minutes
il went away. We watched it until il reached the
path; when commencing another song, 1t stopped,
listened, and then slowly returned TO its place
under the window. When left and went home
there more music. The toad was never
again seen.
Some years previous to my marriage, my father
lived III old hall III the neghborhood of one Of
our large towns. The grounds were extensive. 1t
his delight 10 have d sort ot model iarm Which
gave me many opportunities of studying the differ
cnt characters Of the various animals upon IT, lben
! saw the influence OF music upon many OF thcin
There was beautiful horse. lie PTQe ana delight
Of us all and Ike many othefs hc lad an uncOn-
querablc dislike 10 be- caught. My father had so
tiaiucd him to obedience that he gave very little
trouble; a whistle and "a wave OF the hand, and
Robert would come quietly TO be sadded. But If
left tn old gardener Willy, he would lead hun
n chase. generally ending in defeat One very hot
summer day sitting at wOrb III the garden,
when Willy appeared streaming with perspratl0n,
What is the matter, Willy T.
Ter enough, MISS. lH'it tildt lto''ltt tiiC
uucauny beast; he won't be caught. al can do or
saw I've give him corn. aud one Of the best peaLs
oil tie trce but he's too deep fOT Ine-he suatched
the pcsr kicked up his heels, and oil he Is, laughing
at me at the bottom OF the meadow"
was very sorry for the old man. bat did not
clearly sec how Ia catch the delinquent. could
we'll believe he laughing at oar old friend, tor
he was = curious animal.
well. Willy. wnat can do' lie won't let me
eaten ham, yol know
'Ay but Hiss, # YOU viii only Just 90 inand begin
t,..ft af tI, u.4u a .
the fence and he1rkcn to yOu for lie is awaJ ado
ing that, and maybe / can sip behind and cotch
him"
| went in at once not expecting my strat9gom to
succeed. Bat IN few minutes thc siucy creature
was standing quietly h,tening. while | PLAYED
scots wha haze vi Wallace blcd" The halter
was s. on round his neck and lie won't away 10 bo
haTncsscd quite happy and conteutcd.
There was great pecuhauty about his taste Tor
music. H. never would stay To listen Ia PLAIN
tive song sOOn observed this. IL pl;Ned SCOT
wha haze" lac would listen well pleased. II
changed the measure aId expression playing the
same Hlr paintiNcIy, as Tor instance III tho Laiiu
o the Lcalp Ae would toss his head and walk
away, as If 10 say: " That ~ not my sort OF music"
Changing 10 something martial lac would rctulh'
In this respect he entirely differed from beaut-
ful COW We had. She had an awful temper Old
beast under the sun" If she were In one of bcr Ill
humOrs. u was with the greatest difficulty she
could be MIXED She never would 20 with the
other cows az milking time. Nancy bf MIXED WIN
them that was a thing not TO be Thought Of. she
liked the cook and when not too busy, cook would
manage Miss Nancy. Bus II she were not very care
ful. up would 90 Naucya foot. and over would 20
the milk-can and its piecloEs contents. When the
cook MIXED her, II WAS always close u The renee
near the drawiug-lo0m. II were playing. sine would
stand perfectly still Welding her milk without any
trouble. and would remain until ceased y. Ions
rs played plaiutiNe Inuslc- Inc Lang the L''I,
Home, Sweet Home" Robin Adar,' any sweet
tender air-shc seemed cntrluced. have uled her,
and chan ged to martial music. wheIenpon size IL
vaTiabiy walked away.
| could give many Instances of q love for music
in animals. / wall give another. | was sitting IN
the drawing room one evening singing to mamma
II was double room, with folding doors. She was
In one where there a lamp. lu my room, who Il
was unlighted the window was open. and close TO
the window was a stand for music. When ceased
PLAYING heard peculiar sound. and was conscious
there was something III the room. called Tor a
light. There. sitting on the stand was large
white owl. He looked lar less surprised than we
did. In a minute or two he stepped quietly out OF
the window. and flew away. After this we did not
leave the lower sash of the window open but the
owl still came. aud sat upon the stone outside