MUSICAL ANIMALS.
Dogs and other animals are variously affected by musical sounds; some manifesting dislike, others enjoyment, when within hearing of music. I knew one dog that, when requested to sing, would stand on his hind-legs and go on whining and howling for almost any length of time, and while the performance was attended to he manifested great enthusiasm. But he also enjoyed real music very much, and showed signs of pleasure when the piano was played, getting as near to it as possible. Occasionally, however, he would take a part without being invited, much to the discomfiture of a singer, who would wonder where the extraordinary accompaniment came from. I have a lively recollection of his volunteering assistance when we were singing a hymn one Sunday evening, and of the way in which it was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the sight of our doggie on his hind-legs, and the sound of his whines ringing out above every human voice.
A black cat belonging to a friend, in whose house I was a guest some years ago, had a strong dislike to music in every shape, but especially to singing. Having noticed this peculiarity, I am afraid I teased poor pussy a good deal by my endeavors to produce a manifestation of her feelings with regard to vocal music, and when she was stretched comfortably by the fire I used to begin to sing, taking care to shut the door first. Puss would jump up, rush to it, and finding the means of egress cut off, would run wildly round the room, as if in distress, until I ceased. Not to irritate the creature too much, I generally made my vocal performance a very short one.
On an exceptional occasion I thought I would try the cat's powers of endurance a little longer, and went on singing, when, after vainly trying to escape, the creature sprang at me, placed one paw across my mouth, and clung to my dress and neck with the rest of her claws in such a fashion that I was only too glad to cease my song, and so pacify the desperate animal.
When pussy's claws were disengaged I was not a little relieved, and I need hardly say that this was the last time I ventured to experiment on the cat's patience. My friend was also much alarmed, and I have no doubt thought, as I too did, that I had escaped almost better than I deserved, under the circumstances, for I had only a few scratches.
A pug-dog, the pet of a lady in this neighborhood, has a favorite tune which he distinguishes from all others. Nugget is a musical animal, and has a way of putting in occasional notes of his own when his mistress plays the piano. But when she commences his tune, Nugget becomes greatly excited. He first capers up and down the room, and then, running to the side of the player, he stands on his hind-legs and accompanies the music in a style peculiar to himself and most amusing in its effect on the listeners.
Nugget's mistress or any other performer may play the piano by the hour, and the dog manifests only an ordinary amount of interest. But no matter how suddenly his tune may be introduced, Nugget shows his appreciation of it by going through the performance already described.
The lady attributes the dog's fondness for the tune to the fact that when he was a puppy her little niece used to play it upon the piano, singing only the word "Nugget" again and again to the music. As, however, the pug recognizes the tune itself, when simply played, from all others, it is quite evident that he has a musical ear, and is not in any way guided by words.