1 30 ORPHEUS AT THE ZOO 
and even of the wild cattle, the pleasure and curiosity 
aroused by the music was plainly shown, as we 
have described above, by their instant attention 
and their approach towards the sounds. At the 
sudden discords they instantly showed displeasure by 
stamping the feet and retiring. The African elephant 
gave unmistakable signs of anger ; the wild boar and 
pigs, of pleasure and curiosity ; and among others 
which shared these amiable emotions, were beyond 
doubt the zebras, wild asses, Polar and grizzly bears, 
and the ant-eater. No creature seemed wholly 
indifferent except the seals, and the sudden start and 
displeasure at a discord was almost universal, from the 
snakes to the African elephant. There are many men, 
perhaps many races of men, who could not detect a 
discord, and would be indifferent alike to harmony 
and its opposite. Must we not, then, infer that, 
owing to some greater sensitiveness of the organ, most 
animals have a musical ear, and that the stories of 
Orpheus and his lute have, at any rate, a basis in the 
facts of animal aesthetics ? 
