Chap. 113.] SUPERFLUOUS LIMBS. 95 



it was at the same period that his father's empire fell. Those 

 children which begin to speak the soonest, begin to walk the 

 latest. The human voice acquires additional strength at the 

 fourteenth year ; but in old age it becomes more shrill again, 

 and there is no living creature in which it is subject to more 

 frequent changes. 

 _ In addition to the preceding, there are still some singular 

 circumstances that deserve to be mentioned with reference to 

 the voice. If saw-dust or sand is thrown down in the orches- 

 tra of a theatre, or if the walls around are left in a rough 

 state, or empty casks are placed there, the voice is absorbed ; 

 while, on the other hand, if the wall is quite straight, or if 

 built in a concave form, the voice will move along it, and will 

 convey words spoken in the slightest whisper from one 

 end 58 to the other, if there is no inequality in the surface to 

 impede its progress. The voice, in man, contributes in a great 

 degree to form his physiognomy, for we form a knowledge of 

 a man before we see him by hearing his voice, just as well 59 

 as if we had seen him with our eyes. There are as many 

 kinds of voices, too, as there are individuals in existence, and 

 each man has his own peculiar voice, just as much as his own 

 peculiar physiognomy. Hence it is, that arises that vast di- 

 versity of nations and languages throughout the whole earth : 

 in this, too, originate the many tunes, measures, and inflexions 

 that exist. But, before all other things, it is the voice that 

 serves to express our sentiments, 60 a power that distinguishes 

 us from the beasts ; just as, in the same way, the various shades 

 and differences in language that exist among men have created 

 an equally marked difference between us and the brutes. 



CHAP. 113. (52.) SUPERFLUOUS LIMBS. 



Supernumerary limbs, when they grow on animals, are of 

 no use, which is the case also with the sixth finger, when it 

 grows on man. It was thought proper in Egypt to rear a 

 human monster, that had two additional eyes in the back part 

 of the head ; it could not see with them, however. 



58 Like the whispering gallery of St. Paul's Cathedral. 



59 " Non aliter quam oculis." On this, few will be found to asn-ee with 

 Pliny. & 



6u And not to " conceal " them, according to the opinion of some modern 

 politicians. 



