The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-04-27
The Influence Of Music.

Seals are very fond of music, and have been
known to follow boat in which some one was
PLAYING for a long distance Their taste in
this direction was well known TO the ancienis
and is often taken advantage of by hunters at
the present day. According to some authori-
ties, seal shooters should always be accompa-
MED by a piper in order TO entice the animals
10 destruction, and they assert that the seal
prefers the sound Of the bagpipe TO thai of any
other instrument.
Few things are more extraordinary than the
calming influence e1erted over the cobra-ca-
pelo ana other poisonous snakes by the shrill
monoionous ditties of the serpent-charmers of
India. 1t has been said that the snakes e1-
hibited by the suake-charmers have had their
iangs extracted, but this is not invariably the
case; and observations worthy Of credit have
been recorded, not only in India, but in other
paris of the world. Of serpents, untamed and
IN possession Of the most deadly powers, be-
coming docile and harmless while there was
music in the air They even allowed them
selves 10 be played with, and have nestled
peaceably for days in the charmer's turban.
Sir J. G. Tenant, in his Natural History
Of Ceylon, mentions an instance, about which
there can be no doubt, of snake chaImer's
music inducing large cobra TO leave its hole
aud perform certain antics at the word of CON-
mand. Another instance may be quoted from
General Campbell's Indian Journal. A large
cobra had been charmed by music out of well
in which be bad taken up his abode. Having
caught him in a horsehair moose they carried
him TO an open space Of ground and there re-
leased him "The euraged snake Immediately
made a rush at the bysianders, putting TO
fight a crowd Of native servants who bad as
sembled to witness the sport. The snake
charmer, tapping him Oh the tail with switch
induced him 10 turn upon himself, at the same
time sounding his pipe. The snake coiled
himself up, raised his head, expanded bis
hood, and appeared about to strike: but in
stead Of doing 50 be remained in the same pO-
sition, as if fascinated by the music, darting
out his slender fOrked tongue, and following
with his head the motion Of the mans knee,
which be kept moving from side to side, within
few inches Of him, as il tempting him to bite.
No sooner did the music cease than the snake
dashed forward with such fury that it required
great agility on the part of the man TO avoid
him, and Immediately made of as fast as he
could 90. The sound of the pipe however, in
variably made him stop, and obliged him to
remain IN an erect position as long as the man
continued 10 play"
snakes" from their delight in music and their
movements in concert with it. They follow
with swayinS 10 and fro Of their bodies all
the undulatiOns Of the tune, and give evident
signs Of both pleasure and pain.
The lizard seems possessed of a remarkable
share OF musical sensibility. When lizard
is warming itself in the sun, if singing or in
strumental music catches its ear it immedi-
ately takes various attitudes which testify to
;he pleasure i e<getieNeSs. 81 nnsis SDep
moi giYr Ii rquai gTaii6caiio1. ST.. Fetis men
toned lizard that came cut OF hole Il &C.
cupied in an old wall as soon as it heard the
first note of the adagio in F Of Mozart's quar-
tet in c. When the music ceased, and as soon
as there was silence, the lizard turned and
went slowly back to its home; but if the play
ers RECOMMENDED the adagio, it would stop,
listen for an instant TO make sure that its ears
were not deceived. and then return to the place
at which it stood listening before.-Lsisp,e
Hour.