Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of AnimalsLee, R., Mrs.
General
Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals
Lee, R., Mrs.
Animal behavior -- Juvenile literature
In an American scientific journal, there is a well-authenticated account
of a strange and overpowering sensibility to music, as evinced by a
mouse. It says, "that one evening, as a few officers on board a British
man-of-war, in the harbour of Portsmouth, were seated round the fire,
one of them began to play a plaintive air upon the violin. He had
scarcely performed ten minutes, when a mouse, apparently frantic, made
its appearance in the centre of the floor. The strange gestures of the
little animal strongly excited the attention of the officers, who, with
one consent, resolved to suffer it to continue its singular actions
unmolested. Its exertions appeared to be greater every moment; it shook
its head, leapt about, and exhibited signs of the most ecstatic delight.
It was observed that in proportion to the gradations of the tones to the
soft point, the feelings of the animal appeared to be increased. After
performing actions, which an animal so diminutive would, at first sight,
seem incapable of, the little creature, to the astonishment of the
delighted spectators, suddenly ceased to move, fell down, and expired
without evincing any symptoms of pain."
ELEPHANTS.
The extraordinary thickness of skin which distinguishes certain animals,
has induced naturalists to group them together, and call them
Pachydermata. This group is again divided according to the still further
peculiarities which some of them possess; and in the first subdivision
are elephants; distinguished by an enormous prolongation of the upper
lip and nose, into what is termed a trunk, or proboscis. The largest
animals in the world are to be found among them; and according to some,
they are the most sagacious. There is, however, a strong inclination in
many to give the dog the highest place next to man, with regard to
intellect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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