ANIMALS AMD MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1927, Page 20

ANIMALS AMD MUSIC

VALUABLE EXPERIMENTS

The director of the London Zoological Society's aquarium, Mr. E. G-. Boulenger, in the "JJaily Telegraph," writes about some experiments at the Zoo on "Animals and Music." Ho says: "The rhinoceros was found.to liavo no ear for music, and attempted to charge the orchestra, no matter what tune was played. The 'Moonlight Sonata' and 'Tea for Two' alike aroused his ire. The sea-lions, on tho other hand, were delighted with everything put before them with the exception of 'jazz.' jSTo matter how busy playing in their pond, they paused and rose to tho surface as soon as the orchestra struck up. Most of the melodies that had exasperated the rhino, delighted them, and they remained standing waist high out of the water until the last strains had died away. There could be no question of ulterior motives. Tho Zoo sea-lions always become elated when they see their keeper —associating him with fresh fish—but the orchestra offered no material reward for attention. Thunder-storms and war-time gunfire have no effect upon the sea-lions, ao that mere noise cannot .offer an explanation for their enthusiasm. Tho Zoo's wolves and jackals responded all too readily to the music offered. A tune set in a minor key at once caused them to point their noses to the sky and give voice in so vociferous a manner as to drown completely the orchestra. The minor key,.-depressing at all times, had a like effect upon most of the animals. The cheetah thoroughly enjoyed "I Want to bo Happy,' but registered discontent, and even alarm, when favoured with Gounod's 'Funeral March.' Tho orchestra, when playing in the reptilehouse, never failed to bring the crocodile to the surface. In fact, every pond was emptied, the boasts clustering on the banks, and with heads upraised, evincing the keenest interest in the performance. In tho insect house the like effect was obtained with tho scorpions and certain spiders. All birds, strange to say, were in no way attracted. Some were obviously annoyed. It is difficult to summarise" the results of such experiments. Apparently one beast's music is another's discord, and what enthralls the emotional sea-lion exasperates the phlegmatic rhino. Animal songs that strike us as mere noises may tear the heart-strings of the creatures intended to hear them. . Tho howl or the tom-cat and- tho screech of the barn owl from the dead oak are equally approved by 'specialised audiences.' It is difficult to say exactly where 'melody begins and 'noiso' ends. Animal appreciation of human music is an uncertain quantity, and not always flattering in its expression; but most animals enjoy the music of their own kinds—especially Move songs.' Practically all birds become vocal during the mating season, but the Regent's Park menageries can f-irnish other examples from very unexpected quarters Many apes and monkeys have organ, like voices, while tho alligators' oratorio and the frogs' choruses are other outstanding examples. One animal the porcupine, lures his bride by rattling special sound-producing quills— a Borneo who woos his Juliet upon the castenets."