The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-29
ANIMALS THAT LIKE MUSIC.
C~hlmpanzees' Orchestra-NOns Listen 70
PIanO-The cat Fugue."
M. Ddnhtctse h "a Reuns

W AuW''N . ~ Nv ANNNN
The Extraordinary musical sensitiveness
Of spiders has several times been proved,
Every one has heard OF Pellisson's spider.
Consoler Of the unfortunate prisoner. II per-
lshed because il listened too closely to the
captives violin. The taller saw II and
crushed II brutAlly.
Gretry, the composer, speaks Of q fayorite
spider which descended along lie thread
upon his pia no as soon 90 he played u. When
giving recitals at Brussels Rubinstein saw
a large spider issue from the door Of the plat
form and listen TO the music. He gave three
concerts At the same hall and on each occasion
the spider appeared,
Insects 10 general, though less sensitive
10 music, do not object TO 1t. Fishes betray
little or no interest in music. Everybody,
on the other hand. probably knows that
music is often used in order to attract snakes
from their hiding places.
The Indians catch iguansG in that manner
and there is an experiment .ha: -e csa 81
make 10 demonstrate the truth Of the matter.
II a violin or piano Is played whenever there
il a lizard visible the lizard will stop and
listen With obvious pleasure as long as the
music lasts,
II lisa well known fact that 10 those countries
where oxen are used for labor they take
great pleasure In the singing Of their driver.
They work better At the plough when stirred
by a cheerful sons. Arabs sins to their camels
during long journeys across the desert.
Horses are particularly sensitive to music.
Guenoe. who carefully studied the matter.
quotes the following curious fact: In 1907
the Fifty.eighth Regiment Of Infantry was
making a military teet march when the
music struck up. The young horse OF Capt
De R. fastened forward and placed Itself,
In spite Of It's rider, behind the last rank Of
the musicians. Then II followed peacefully,
giving obvious signs Of pleasure.
When the music ceased the Captain was
able 10 resume his place at the head OF his
company, but the band struck up again.
and the horse, Notwithstanding the efforts
Of Capt. De R. Ealloped ahead and once
more placed II self behind the musicians. This
happened every time the band played"
Lions have been found 10 listen With marked
JOY TO the piano. They appreciate the top
notes and the medium. but roar terribly when
the bass keyt are struck loudly.
Scarlatti, the Italian composer. owned q
cat which loved TO walk on the keys OF q
piano and struck certain notes in preference
10 Others. The composer took those notes
as the theme Of one OF his fuEues, which,
for that reason, received the name Of The
Cat FuEue." | have seen many cats walk
up and down the keyboard. showing obvious
pleasure at the sound thus produced,
The writer knows Of a dog that will listen
int emily and silently TO all melodies, but
displays every symptom Of pain and agony
at the sound Of a chromatio scale. This
dog becomes quiet az soon a. the melody
il again taken up. II 10 only the succetsion
Of semitones which makes 90 extraordinary
an impression upon II. | know Of another
dog which 10 fond Of organ music, but walls
terribly az soon as the VoI Celeste stop
iS used.
II one wished 10 make serious experiments
in musical psychology the dog would no
doubt prove the most interesting study.
and the monkey, too, would be fGScinatinf.
Darwin mentions q gibbon which vaS able
70 sing . complete octave, and Il 10 known
that black chlmpslssas VII gather e ths
plumber OF from twenty. 10 nity and. form
kind OF orchestra. beating pieces on hollow
wood with sticks for their own pleasure.