Chap. XIX J MUSICAL POWERS. 319 



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the house-sparrow has learned the song of a linnet. As 

 these two species are closely allied, and belong to the 

 order of Insessores, which includes nearly all the singing- 

 birds in the world, it is quite possible or probable that a 

 progenitor of the sparrow 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 differ- 

 ently-constructed 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 parrots are 

 descended from some ancient progenitor which was a 

 songster. Many analogous cases could be advanced of 

 organs and instincts originally adapted for one purpose, 

 having been utilized for some quite distinct purpose. 32 

 Hence the capacity for high musical development, 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 dis- 

 tinct 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 

 with 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, etc. 

 It awakens the gentler feelings of tenderness and love, 



88 Since this chapter has been printed I have seen a valuable article 

 by Mr. Chauncey Wright (' North Amer. Review,' Oct. 1870, p. 293), 

 who, in discussing the above subject, remarks : " There are many conse- 

 quences of the ultimate laws or uniformities of Nature through which 

 the acquisition of one useful power will bring with it many resulting ad- 

 vantages 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, as I have attempted to show "in the 

 second chapter of this work, on the acquisition by man of some of hia 

 mental characteristics. 



