APPENDIX. 705 



not decline fuggefting what little profit they may 

 poflibly be of, though at beft they mould rather 

 be confidered as what Lord Bacon terms, experi- 

 ments of light, than of fruit. 



In the firfh place, there is no better method of 

 investigating the human faculties, than by a com- 

 parifon with thofeof animals; provided we make it 

 without a moft ungrateful wifh of lowering our- 

 felves, in that diftinguifhed fituation in which wc 

 are placed. 



Thus we are referred to the ant for an example 

 of induftry and forefight, becauie it provides a 

 magazine of food for the winter, when this animal 

 is in a (late of torpidity during that feafon ; nor 

 are we lefs willing to fuppofe the fong of birds to 

 be fuperior to our own mufical powers. 



The notes of many birds are certainly very plea- 

 fing, but by no means (land in competition either 

 with the human voice or our word mufical in- 

 ftruments ; nor only from want of the (inking ef- 

 fects of harmony in many excellent compofitions*, 

 but becaufe, even when compared to our fimple 

 melody, expreflioji is wanting*, without which mu- 

 fic is fo languid and inanimate. 



But to return to the ufes (fuch as they are) 

 which may arife from attending to the fong of birds, 

 or from the experiments which I have given an ac- 

 count of. 



* The nightingale, indeed, is perhaps an exception to this 



general obfervation. 



The 



