Bonaventure d’Argonne says, “Doubting the truth of those who say it is
natural for us to love music, especially the sounds of instruments, and
that beasts are touched with it, I one day, being in the country,
endeavoured to determine the point; and, while a man was playing on the
trump marine, made my observations on a cat, a dog, a horse, an ass, a
hind, cows, small birds, and a cock and hens, who were in a yard, under
a window on which I was leaning. I did not perceive that the cat was the
least affected; and I even judged, by her air, that she would have given
all the instruments in the world for a mouse, sleeping in the sun all
the time; the horse stopped short from time to time before the window,
lifting his head up now and then, as he was feeding on the grass; the
dog continued for above an hour seated on his hind legs, looking
steadfastly at the player; the ass did not discover the least indication
of his being touched, eating his thistles peaceably; the hind lifted up
her large wide ears, and seemed very attentive; the cows slept a little,
and after gazing as though they had been acquainted with us, went
forward: some birds who were in an aviary, and others on the trees and
bushes, almost tore their throats with singing; but the cock, who minded
only his hens, and the hens, who were solely employed in scraping on a
neighbouring dunghill, did not show in any manner that they took the
least pleasure in hearing the trump marine.”
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