Chap. XIX. Mail — Musical Powers. 571 



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 very rash to 

 assume that parrots are descended from some ancient form which 

 was a songster. Many cases could be advanced of organs 

 and instincts originally adapted for one purpose, having been 

 utilised for some distinct purpose. 36 Hence the capacity for 

 high musical development, which the savage races of man 

 possess, may be due either to the practice by our semi-human 

 progenitors of some rude form of music, or simply to their 

 having acquired the proper vocal organs for a different purpose. 

 But in this latter case we must assume, as in the above instance 

 of parrots, and as seems to occur with many animals, that they 

 already possessed some sense of melody. 



Music arouses in us various emotions, but not the more 

 terrible ones of horror, fear, rage, &c. It awakens the gentler 

 feelings of tenderness and love, which readily pass into devotion. 

 In the Chinese annals it is said, "Music hath the power of 

 7 making heaven descend upon earth/' It likewise stirs up in us 

 the sense 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 Dr. Seem aim observes, 

 greater intensity of feeling in a single musical note than in 

 pages of writing. It is probable that nearly the same emotions, 

 but much weaker and far less complex, are felt by birds when 

 the male pours forth his full volume of song, in rivalry with 

 other males, to captivate the female. Love is still the com- 

 monest theme of our songs. As Herbert Spencer remarks, 

 " music arouses dormant sentiments of which we had not 

 " conceived the possibility, and do not know the meaning ; or, 

 " as Eichter says, tells us of things we have not seen and shall 

 " not see." Conversely, when vivid emotions are felt and ex- 

 pressed by the orator, or even in common speech, musical cadences 

 and rhythm are instinctively used. The negro in Africa when 

 excited often bursts forth in song; " another will reply in song, 

 " while the company, as if touched by a musical wave, murmur 



36 Since this chapter was printed, " resulting advantages as well as 



I have seen a valuable article by "limiting* disadvantages, actual or 



Mr. Chauncey Wright ('North "possible, which the principle of 



Ainer. Review,' Oct. 1870, page " utility may not have comprehended 



293), who, in discussing the above " in its action." As I have attempted 



subject, remarks, " There are many to shew in an early chapter of this 



'' consequences of the ultimate laws work, this principle has an impor- 



w or uniformities of nature, through tant bearing on the acquisition bv 



*' which the acquisition of one use- man of some of his mental charac- 



:< r'ul power will bring with it many teristics. 



