The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-12
MUSIC-LOyING BRUTEs.
Some Species Which Manifest De-
light in Melody.
Dogs Sometimes Join In Song. and Even
COWS Cavort I'm Gladstone Ungaln-
nhess When They 1lenr
Sweet StrainR.


The question:: Are animals musicale Is
perplcxing one and may not easily be
set ut rest, says the New Yorl, Evening
Sun. Everybody has heard dog howl
at u musical performance. but does that
Indicate dislil1c for music or desire
for some other kind2 There arc many
recorded instances of dogs who have
Shown distinct musical ability.
The satisfaction expressed by cats at
piano playing must have been generally
noticed. It will be found TINT they
show every sign of feline enjoyment,
purring, blinking their eyes and agitat-
ing their claws. Usually, too, they will
venture on the piano keys themselves
when they are alone, to find out what
kind of harmony they can extract from
the marvellous instrument
The writer has put down here few
instances which tend to answer In the
affirmative the question under discus,
sion.
a keeper In n menagcrio told him thnt
the animals undoubtedly appreciated
the work Of band which played near
by, and that it did them good
The worst difficulty that tho animal
keeper encounters is the apathy Of his
wards and their aversion to exercise.
This keeper said that when tho bond
struck up an inspirating air, like ''Rule
britannia" the animals walked up end
down their cages in quite lively wny.
Thus they were induced to take Us much
exercise as possible under the condi-
tons. Tho birds Chartered or etng, and
even the snakes showed unusual signs
of life.
When the band WINS away, operuttng
on the ears of the townspcopbc, the ani-
rnnl became apathotic ngnin and
moped- The keeper attributed the good
health and longevity which prevailed In
this fcline community to the stoady
efforts of the municipal baud
The dog, it is said, shows u marked
preference for the hatmonium over
every othcr instrument Once there
lived q terrier of mixed but entirely
Scottish breed who used to listen to tho
playing Of the harmonium with evident
pleasure until very high note was
reached lie would then arise, stretch
out his tall, stiffen himself and howl
the same note for some ti1no. lie in
tended IN this way to indicato his dis
pleasure and to discourage the further
playing of the note.
Dogs, it may then be inferred, are
fond of serious music and of solemn
Instruments. They protest habitually
against the playing of lively tunes.
They have, indeed, been taught to dance
TO the violin and the flute, but their
natures have been outraged. In the
grinding OF barrel organ bulldog
has found fairly congeninl employment.
a man had Il collie, in all respects but
one an affectionnte and respectful uni
NAL, who was reused to fury by his
masters singing, which WIS not good.
He would howl SO terribly that his mas
ter seldom finished song. The dog
lived to good old age, and ives grcetly
respected in the ncighborhood
a young prima donno, very we'll
known in this country and In Europe,
has n terrier which accompanies her
when she practices her songs He keeps
time and barks TO some extent In tune.
Although the assistance he affords Is by
no means valuable, his mistress Is so
much pleased by his clcverness thab she
does not discourage him
young lady was in the habit Of
singing in q contralto voice religious
song called Calvary" to o setter. It
! was in E minor. The dog used to howl
In time at regular intervals and IN tho
right key.
! There is much doubt as to how cats
take music Some hold that they are
not born musicians, but can be edu-
Gated. An acquaintance had very
much pcttod cat who was Indifferent to
harmony rs q kitten but grew TO like it
in mature years. She would SIT by the
piano and listen for a long time, and
when tho player went away would stop
on the keys herself. She showed q
strong preference for the treble notes
and some terror at the sound of the bass
ones.
Cows arc said to be intensely fond Of
! music. Seven or eight persons who
were fond OF hearing their own melodi-
Gus voices went on boating cxcur-
sion. They sang as they rowcd, and
they ellego that small Attorney COW
accompanied them along the river,
dancing and behaving ms If she were in
toxicated with delight
She even advanced through the water
to meet them, leaving her infant on the
bank. When at last she was compelled
to part from them she beloved Iona
and sorrowfully.
Mice and rats are said to be as much
affected by music as was the COW. On
this point the best evidence is tho le-
gcnd the Pied Piper of IIamelin.
Fishing in Ccy!on.
Ncgombo Lake, Ccylon, is about four
miles in width, and all around us yyero