1890] Effects of Musical Sounds on Animals. 123 
INSTANCES OF THE EFFECTS OF MUSICAL SOUNDS 
ON ANIMALS. 
BY ROBERT E. C. STEARNS. 
(Continued from p. 29, Vol. XXIV., 1890.) 
CATS AND MUSIC. 
M® GEORGE GUION, of Ventnor, Isle of Wight, referring 
to a cat owned by his friend, a Capt. Noble, says: 
“If any one in her presence commences whistling a plaintive 
air Brownie will presently go to him, climb into his lap, and 
raising herself on her hinder legs will put her mouth close to 
that of the whistler. Captain Noble’s view of the motive is, 
that the cat imagines the performer to be in pain, and thus 
endeavors to express her sympathy. One day when sitting round 
the table after dinner, we each for experiment attracted the 
animal in turn, who on the above supposition must have thought 
we were suffering from an epidemic, as each of us in succession 
exhibited the same symptoms. It is necessary that the air 
whistled should be of a plaintive character, as I found by com- 
mencing a lively measure, which I had to change. In my boy- 
hood we had a cat which had a habit very similar. If I laid 
myself down on the sofa, and made a moaning sound, the cat 
would jump up and hover about me, as if anxious to find out 
what was the matter.” 
Another party writes: “Sometime since I had an ordinary 
tortoise-shell cat, which had a peculiar fondness for the tune 
known as “ Rode’s Air.” One day I chanced to whistle it, when, 
without any previous training, she jumped on my shoulder, and 
showed unmistakable signs of pleasure by rubbing her head 
against mine, and trying to get as near my mouth as possible. 
I have tried many other tunes, but with no avail.” 
Captain Noble, of Forest Lodge, Maresfield, England, whose 
cat “ Brownie” is referred to by Mr. Guion, in response to the 
