r among nearly all of them certain sounds are
agreeable and attractive, and other sounds indifferent and disagreeable.
It appears that insects of quite different genera show much appreciation
of the song of the Cicada.[108] Birds show intense interest in the singing
of good performers even of other species. Experiments among a variety of
animals in the Zooelogical Gardens with performances on various instruments
showed that with the exception of seals none were indifferent, and all
felt a discord as offensive. Many animals showed marked likes and
dislikes; thus, a tiger, who was obviously soothed by the violin, was
infuriated by the piccolo; the violin and the flute were preferred by most
animals.[109]

Most persons have probably had occasion to observe the
susceptibility of dogs to music. It may here suffice to give one
personal observation. A dog (of mixed breed, partly collie), very
well known to me, on hearing a nocturne of Chopin, whined and
howled, especially at the more pathetic passages, once or twice
catching and drawing out the actual note played; he panted,
walked about anxiously, and now and then placed his head on the
player's lap. When the player proceeded to a more cheerful piece
by Grieg, the dog at once became indifferent, sat down, yawned,
and scratched himself; but as soon as the player returned once
more to the nocturne the dog at once repeated his accompaniment.

There can be no doubt that among a very large number of animals of most
various classes, more especially among insects and birds, the attraction
of music is supported and developed on the basis of sexual attraction, the
musical notes emitted serving as a sexual lure to the other sex. The
evidence on this point was carefully investigated by Darwin on a very wide
basis.[110] It has been questioned, some writers preferring to adopt the
view of Herbert Spencer,[111] that the singing of birds is due to
"overflow of energy," the relation between courtship and singing being
merely "a relation of concomitance." This view is no longer tenable;
whatever the precise origin of the musical notes of animals may be,--and
it is not necessary to suppose that sexual attraction had a large part in
their first rudimentary beginnings,--there can now be little doubt that
musical sounds, and, among birds, singing, play a very large part indeed
in bringing the male and the female together.[112] Usually, it would
appear,