The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-27
OF MUSIC |. ON ANIMALS VARIES Lions Like It and Listen
 Appreciatively IRISH ELEPHANTS
IRISH
ELEPHANTS
At Least the Ones in Central Park Zoo Manifest Decided Preference for Irish Airs-Wolyes and
 Foxes Cantankerous

"Is it true that every animal has a musical note?" "Bill' Snyder of the Central park "zoo." was asked. says the New York Herald.
 Sure" replied the man who knows the city's animals as we'll as a mother knows her own children. Animals arc just like people. Some of them know a lot and some of them haven't sense enough to go in out of the rain if they weren't chased in. Some of them love music and some of them hate it."
 What do they do when they hear music?"
 "Bill' Snyder paused, the cleaver with which he was cutting up meat for the animals chief meal suspended in the air Just come around some day and see.'' He went on cutting meat and made il apparent that the conversation, so far as | he was concerned was ended. The in terrogator knew he was too ignorant oi animals for the keeper te spend much [ time with him. If he would put himself | 1n the position of a disciple all right, Bill" would instruct him.
 So one morning the reporter, the artist and the musician arrived early. "Bilf was cutting meat and stopped to look disapprovingly at the trio. we want to find out about the musical tastes of the various animals" the reporter put in de- fensively.
 Should Come Early
 Why didn't you come earlier?
 Why, it is only o'clock now.'.
 "H'm, you should have been here at half-past seven. Whats the use oi comin' round after the crowds get here a,,i, Ie then. Haven't got their minds on any thing else.'
 In spite of, these discourag ging remarks the investigators of the musical abilities of animals decided to make a test They wandered first into the lion house, and Heine, taking his violin from the case began to play America" Perhaps the handsome lioness thought it was "God Save the King" which she had heard ir India before she was shipped to far away ' America. At any rate she listened in mute and dignified appreciation, and she and her five tawny cubs. ranged about her in exactly the same attitude and with the same expression, made a wonderful audience. The old lion in the next cage too, stopped his nervous promenade and ' listened qiuetly. peering after the player wistfully as he went on to the further cages. Stopping in front of a tigresS ltelne began to play again. The animal ! looked up, startled. Her mate promptly came in from the next cage and escorted her out, sending her into the yard while he took up his position next to the gratin. and listened. Several times the tigress put in her head, but her lord and ma ster frowned upon her and she retreated. Evi- dently he did not think the music suitable for her to hear, but he enjoyed it very much himself
 HippOpotami Dislike Music
 Try it on the hippopotami" urged George Sichert, the keeper The uncouth creatures were floating about sslusgishls in their tanks. but $ soon as the musi, began they opened their huge mouths ana one could hardly tell whether it was witt intent to join in the chorus or to protest against the sounds. Sichert was au- hority, however, for the theory that they did not like it. Lions love the music they Will listen to it for hours, but the hippopotamus gets mad" he stated
 ''Bill' Snyder rates the intelligence ol elephants very high. The investigators were, therefore. deeply interested ir watching the effect of the violin strains upon them. As a tribute to their menta superiority Heine drew forth the dulce strains of 'Traumerei' from his violin but, to the amazement of the party, the elephant with great delibera tion and deii. niteness of purpose turned his back and continued in that attitude until the seIec. ton was finished.
 Elephants Prefer Irish Airs
 Try an Irish jig, recommended ''Bill' Snyder. The animals up here are great friends of the Irish. They've seer them for so many years they feel wei acquainted with them.' There was, nc doubt about the elephants regard for the Irish tunes Whey they were played he showed his emotion in such a way that you would have taken him for an Irish man. One of the elephants, while plainly disapproving, had moved rhythmical,y with the music of the 'Traumerei" but when the more congenial Irish tune was heard he accommodated himself to it with all the abandonment of joy. Other ami mals, too, by their attitudes bore out the truth of "Bill" Snyder's statement tha, the Central park animals love Irish music
 Way Down Upon the Suwanee River played Heine as he entered the monkey house. One big monkey protested and threw his perch back and forth with a chatter in an attempt to drown the sound but two others flew to the front of the cage and quarrelled for the best place as they clung to the bars. Far, Far From Home" sang the violin, and a forlorn looking monkey wiped first one eye and then the other. It was almost more than he could bear and he had a nice senti- mental time weeping over his Home, Sweet Home"
 Didn't Suit Hyena
 The wolves and the foxes were can- tankerous looking lot and thoroughly ui.- appreciative. Music had no charms to soothe the sayagery in their breasts. If they could have got at the musician, the reporter and the artist they would ur- doubtedIy have taken a harsh revenge. As for the hyena-well, it was hard to analyze the effect that music has on him. but the influence upon the musician was only too evident. The notes got curiously ajar and finally one of the strings snapped