Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28
ANIMALS THAT LIKE MUSIC.
Chimpanzees' Orchestra-Lions Lis
ten to Piano-The "Cat Fugue."

ten to Piano-The "Cat Fugue."
NJ. Daubresse in La Revue
The extraordinary musical sensitiveness
of spiders has several times been proved
Every one has heard of Pellisson's spider
CONSIDER of the unfortunate prisoner, It
persisted because 1t listened too closely to
the captives violin. The Jailer saw 1t and
crushed 1t brutally.
Gretry. the composer. speaks Of a IA
vortte spider, which descended along its
thread upon his piano as soon as he
played 1t. When giving recitals at Brus-
sells Rubenstein saw a large spider issue
from the floor of the platform and listen to
the music. He gave three concerts at the
same hall and on each occasion the spider
appeared.
Insects in general. though less sensitive
to music. do not object to It. Fishes be-
tray little or no interest in music. Every
body. on the other hand, probably knows
that music Is often used in order to at
tract snakes from their hiding places.
The Indians catch iguanas in that man
ner. and there is an experiment that we
can all make to demonstrate the truth Of
the matter. If a violin or piano IL played
whenever there is a lizard visible the rz-
ard will stop and listen with obvious
pleasure as long as the music lasts
1t is a we'll known fact that In 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 song
Arabs sing to their camels during long
Journeys across the desert.
Horses are particularly sensitive to mu-
sic. Guenoe. who carefully studied the
matter. quotes the following curious fact:
I'm 1892 the 5Sth Regiment OF Infantry
was making a military test march when
the music struck up. The young horse Of
Capt. De R fastened forward and
placed itself, IN spite of its rider. behind
the last rank OF the musicians Then 1t
followed peacefully. giving obvious signs
of pleasure.
when the music ceased the captain
was able to resume his place at the head
of his company. but the band struck I'D
again. and the horse Notwithstanding the
efforts OF Capt. De R. galloped ahead
musicians. This happened every time the
band played
Lions have been found to listen with
marked joy to the piano. They appreciate
the top notes and the medium, but roar
terribly when the bass keys are struck
loudly.
Scarliatti. the Italian composer. owned
cat which loved to walk on the keys of
a piano and struck certain notes in prefer
ence to others. The composer took those
notes as the theme of one of his fugues.
which. for that reason, received the name
OF The Cat Fugue." l 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 intently and silently to all melodies
but displays every symptom OF pain and
agony at the sound of chromattc scale
This dog becomes quiet as soon as the
melody Is again taken up 1t is only the
succession of seIni-tones which makes so
extraordinary an impression upon it. I
know of another dog which is fond of
organ music. but walls terribly as soon
as the vox celeste stop is used.
II one wished to make serious expert
ments In musical psychology the dog
would, no doubt. prove the most interest
ing study. and the monkey. too. would be
fascinating. Darwin mentions gibbon
which was able to sing a complete octave.
and 1t is known that black chimpanzees
will gather to the number Of from twenty
to fifty and form kind Of orchestra
beating pieces OF hollow wood with sticks
for their own pleasure.