New-York tribune., 1890-05-31
urSIC4L srScrPTIBILTrY or ANIMALS

HVSIC1L STSCEPTIBTLTTY or ANIMALS
Moved by the poetic description Of Euripid"S
AS ~ tie manner ia which Orphcus was wont L"
,oothe tie savage beast" with the strains Of
his lyrc. an English scientist, who combines the
two enthusiasins OF natural history and music,
has recently made series Of experiments as to the
effect OF different instruments on different
animals The results of his experiments are
embodied IN a pamphlet Just published when
will doubtless prove welcome % owners OF
domestic pcts. who will rejoice To learn whether
II is the piano. the banjo or the auie that IS
mos, pleasing 10 their fayortc tahby or pug.
After informing his readers that sheep and
pigeons are fond Of the iiutc fact which Is
oorroboratcd 10y tie pastoral poetry of almost
every aec-thc writer proceeds 10 announce as
feature Of his discoveries that PIGS oxen and
COWS are attracted hy musical combinations
This statement is somewhat vague and liable To
misintcrprctaton. For as il now stands, II would
lead 10 the inference that it Is necessary To hire
"A band or 10 organize an orchestra IN order To
charm hog or a cow-a process that would prove
somewhat expensive. There is, however. no
reason 10 doubt the assertion that the jingle of
bells inspirits horses aud oxen when dragging
heavy load up hard road; for IN Latin
countries bells are almost always added TO the
harness Of beasts of burden with this object III
view Nor is there any comment 10 make on
the fact that "canaricS generally respond Ia
musical sounds except to remark that they re-
spold to unmusical sounds as well
More questionable. however Is the information
that harcs have been known 10 SIT up in
field listening 10 the chanting Of choriStcrs, and
We are inclined 10 doubt the accuracy of the
learned professors pathetic discovery that the
hippopotanus is yisibly affected by the sounds Of
the big drum For he omits to mention the
Grounds for this remarkable statement, and leaves
a. under the impression that the coniiding pachy-
dcrm is in the habit of either opening lis ca
pacious Jaws and dlstcndIns It's lovely mouth into
a fine broad smile that tears roll down lis
lcathcry cheeks when the boom of the biz drum
il heard 1t is possible, however, that drums,
being almost the only instruments of music known
IN Africa. may bring back 10 the hippopotamus
mcmoric, Of his marshy home and happy child
hood.
Seals" we are informed. are particularly
susceptible 10 music and Will follow for miles
shin ON which a violin is discoursng.' Hence
IL Is argued that the fiddle is their iavoritc in
strumcnt This appears 10 be- a somewhat haSty
conclusions For ships do not ordinarily carry
organs. violonccllos big drums. and there
fare the poor animals do not have many oppor-
tunitics of hearing other Instruments. Their
tastes i'm this matter might, however, be easily
asccrtancd if the suggestion seriously made by
British contemporary were adopted, and vessel
with musicians on board anchored for Il few nights
of the Seal Rock al san Francisco. Indeed, it
mipbt even be discovered which is the particular
school Of music that the seals prefer. An
orchestra stationed for the purpose on the ship
might play "A series of evening concerts, giving on
each occasion selections from one school of music
only The number of seals attracted each night
might be counted, and the admission to the
entertainment would bc free, Wc Should be able
T., ascertain from the size of the audience the
musical proclivitics of the American seal