Evening star., 1898-09-03
EFFECT OF MUSIC.
Queer Results of Experiments Tried
at Geological Gardens.
From. the London Mail.


Experiments have recently been made in
the geological gardens in London as to the
effect OF music on animals. The sound Of
the violin was first tried on the tarantula
spider. but without result nest of scor-
pions. however. showed the livelest sus-
ceptibilities OF the monitor lizard we are
told: The very moment he heard the first
sound Of the violin he raised his head and
was alert and listening. Then the forked
tongue came out, playing necessarily round
his lips, and as the music became soft and
low the lizard grew quite still but for
gentle sweying of the head.
In the next cage all heads were raised,
and forked tongues played, while at q sud
den discOrd every snakes head started
violently back Such, more or less was
the effect of music on all the snakes The
huge pythons showed not grain OF in
terest, and the boa was almost indIf
ferent, but the deadly cobra, which the In
dian snake master wins from his hiding
place in the old wall at the sound of a tiny
pipe, was reused at once. He was lying
sound asleep on the gravel at the bottom
OF his cage; but at the first note he in
stantly raised his head and with eyes
fixed on the door whence the sound came,
as the music grew louder slowly stood
erect on his tail, spread his hood, and
syayed to and fro, in accordance with the
measure of the tune Every change in vol
spending change in the movements or poise
of the snake At the tremolo it's body was
puffed out; at a sudden change, initiating
the sound of the bagpipes. its hood was
expanded to the utmost dimensions, while
a sudden sharp discord made the creature
vince as If under a smart blow.
The polar bear stood upon his hind legs
to listen more intently, walking backwards
and forwards. and humming half-formed
grunt of satisfaction. The two grizzlies,
at the first chord, assumed, critical yet
cCmiC attitude OF keen attention, each
with its head on one side and its paws
clGsping the bars. In the lion house every
head was turned at the first sound of the
violin, and as it grew louder his majesty
began to wave his black tuft on his tail
from side to side, as cat does when med
Fating a spring. while the honess made
her way straight up to the bars, as If to
push him from the front seat. The old
fable Of tho snap Of a broken string caus-
Ing terror to the wolf was next put to the
proof, and seems to be founded on fact.
Instantly, at the sudden crash, the COM
mon wolf set up its back, and with tail
between its legs drew hack with a hideous
sneer. and skunk into a corner.
The flute was chosen to open a concert
for a huge elephant that stood listening
with deep attention, one foot raised from
the ground, and its whole body still-a
strong sign of the effect of music on the
most restless of animals As long as the
flute continued the stiffness unbroken;
but at the first sound of the piccolo all was
changed. Its sharp, shrill note was every
where resented. The elephant twisted
round and turned his back on the perform
er whistling snorting and stamping his
feet Even the ostrich was offended al
the piccolo. writhing it's neck, stalking un-
easily up and down. as II in dudgeon. The
tiger, VINO clearly found pleasure in the
violin started up in fury at the first shrill
cry of the tiny pipe, rushing up and down
the cage. and lashing its tail from side 10
side. A soft air from the flute brough,
back Immediate peace, and we may fairly
Infer that the violin and flute, which hu-
man taste has approved as the most pleas
Ing Of Instruments are. by some unknown
law, most acceptable to the brute creation