Chap. XIX. MUSICAL POWERS. 335 



row may have been a songster. It is a much more 

 remarkable fact that parrots, which belong to a group 

 distinct from the Insessores, and have differently-con- 

 structed vocal organs, can be taught not only to speak, 

 but to pipe or whistle tunes invented by man, so that 

 they must have some musical capacity. Nevertheless 

 it would be extremely rash to assume that jmrrots are 

 descended from some ancient progenitor which was a 

 songster. Many analogous cases could be advanced 

 of organs and instincts originally adapted for one pur- 

 pose, haviug been utilised for some quite distinct 

 purpose.^^ Hence the capacity for high musical de- 

 velopmeut, which the savage races of man possess, may 

 be due either to our semi-human progenitors having 

 practised some rude form of music, or simply to their 

 having acquired for some distinct purposes the proper 

 vocal organs. But in this latter case we must assume 

 that they already possessed, as in the above instance of 

 the parrots, and as seems to occur witli many animals, 

 some sense of melody. 



Music affects every emotion, but does not by itself ex- 

 cite in us the more terrible emotions of horror, rage, &c. 

 It awakens the gentler feelings of tenderness and love, 

 which readily pass into devotion. It likewise stirs up in 

 us the sensation of triumph and the glorious ardour for 

 war. These powerful and mingled feelings may well give 

 rise to the sense of sublimity. We can concentrate, as 



^' Since this chapter has been printed I Jiave seen a valuable article 

 by Mr. Chaimcey Wright (' North Amer. Keview,' Oct. 1870, page 293), 

 wlio, in discussing the above subject, remarks, " There are many con- 

 " sequences of the ultimate laws or uniformities of nature tLirough 

 " which the acquisition of one useful power will bring with it many 

 " resulting advantages as well as limiting disadvantages, actual or 

 " possible, which the principle of utility may not have comprehended 

 *' in its action." This principle has an important bearing, us I have 

 attempted to shew in the second chapter of this work, on the acqui- 

 sition by man of some of bis mental characteristics. 



