Secondary sexual cSahactbbs. 651 



facilities lying dormant in man; some species of birds 

 which never naturally sing, can without much difficulty be 

 taught to do so; thus a 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 possible that a pro- 

 genitor of the sparrow may have been a songster. It is 

 more remarkable that parrots, belonging to a group distinct 

 from the Insessores, and having differently 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 utilized for some distinct pui-pose.* Hence 

 the capacity for high musical development which the 

 savage races of man possess, may be due either to the prac- 

 tice by our semi-human progenitors of some rude form of 

 music, or simply to their having acquired the proper vocal 

 organs for a diiTerent 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 pos- 

 sessed some sense of melody. 



Music arouses in us various emotions, but not the more 

 terrible ones of horror, fear, rage, etc. 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 for making heaven descend upon earth." 

 It likewise stirs up in us the sense of triumph and the 

 glorious ardor for war. These powerful and mingled feel- 

 ings may well give rise to the seijse of sublimity. We can 

 concentrate, as Dr. Seeman observes, greater intensity of 

 feeling in a single musical note than in pages of writing. 



* Since this chapter was printed, I have seen a valuable article by 

 Mr. Chauncy Wright (" North American Review," Oct., 1870, p. 

 293), who, in discussing the above subject, remarks: *' There are 

 many consequences of the ultimate laws or uniformities of nature, 

 through which the acquisition of one useful power will bring with it 

 many resulting advantages as well as limiting disadvantages, actual 

 or possible, which the principle of utility may not have com])rehended 

 in its actions." As I have attempted to show in an early chapter of 

 this work, this principle has an iinptirtant l)eariug on the acquisition 

 by man of some of his mental characteristics. 



