124 Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



mitted that this little performer possessed precision, delicacy 

 and scope of execution." 



•''She had one role, which although the notation is simpler 

 than that of the Wheel Song, yet I think, to her, its execution 

 was more difficult. It is certain that she was far more chary of 

 its performance, and to me its effect seemed more impressive. 

 I have, on account of its infrequency, distinguished it as ' The 

 Grand Role. ' 



"This was seldom given, yet quite often enough to allow it 

 to be written down. The second measure would be sung quite 

 fast, sounding almost like the pecking of a woodpecker on a 

 tree, and at other times it would be slow like the dropping of 

 water. Although she had no ear for time, yet she would keep 

 to the key of b (two flats), and strictly in a major key. This 

 fact I consider interesting, as Wood declares his belief 'that the 

 untaught cries of all the lower animals, whether quadrupeds or 

 birds, are in the minor key.' Herein theory must yield to 

 observation. If I might venture an opinion, it would be that 

 the music of the really musical wild animals is oftener on a 

 major key, while the minor key characterizes savage man. A 

 remarkable fact in the above role is the scope of little Hespie's 

 musical powers. Her soft, clear voice falls an octave with all 

 the precision possible ; then, at the wind-up, it raises again into 

 a quick trill on c sharp and d. 



"Though it be at the risk of taxing belief yet I must, in 

 duty, record one of Hespie's most remarkable performances. 

 She was gamboling in the large compartment of her cage, in a 

 mood indicating intense animal enjoyment, having awoke from 

 a long sleep, and partaken of some favorite food. She burst 

 into a fullness of song very rich in its variety. While running 

 and jumping, she rolled off what I have called her Grand Role; 

 then sitting, she went over it again, ringing out the strangest 

 diversity of changes, by an almost whimsical transposition of the 

 bars ; then, without for an instant stopping the music, she leapt 

 into the wheel, started it revolving at its highest speed, and went 

 through the wheel song in exquisite style, giving several repeti- 

 tions of it. After this she returned to the large compartment, 

 took up again the Grand Role, and put into it some variations 

 of execution which astonished me. One measure, I remember, 



