546 HANDBOOK OF PHYSIOLOGY. 



In speaking, however, occasional syllables generally receive a higher 

 intonation for the sake of accent. The second mode of sequence is the 

 successive transition from high to low notes, and vice versa, without 

 intervals; such as is heard in the sounds, which, as expressions of pas- 

 sion, accompany crying in men, and in the howling and whining of 

 dogs. The third mode of sequence of the vocal sounds is the musical, 

 in which each sound has a determinate number of vibrations, and the 

 numbers of the vibrations in the successive sounds have the same relative 

 proportions that characterize the notes of the musical scale. 



In different individuals this comprehends one, two, or three octaves. 

 In singers that is, in persons apt for singing it extends to two or 

 three octaves. But the male and female voices commence and end at. 

 different points of the musical scale. The lowest note of the female 

 voice is about an octave higher than the lowest of the male voice ; the 

 highest note of the female voice about an octave higher than the highest 

 of the male. The compass of the male and female voices taken together, 

 or the entire scale of the human voice, includes about four octaves. 

 The principal difference between the male and female voice is, therefore, 

 in their pitch; but they are also distinguished by their torn, the male 

 voice is not so soft. The voice presents other varieties besides that of 

 male and female; there are two kinds of male voice, technically called 

 the bass and tenor, and two kinds of female voice, the contralto and 

 soprano, all differing from each other in tone. The bass voice usually 

 reaches lower than the tenor, and its strength lies in the low notes; 

 while the tenor voice extends higher than the bass. The contralto 

 voice has generally lower notes than the soprano, and is strongest in the 

 lower notes of the female voice; while the soprano voice reaches higher 

 in the scale. But the difference of compass, and of power in different 

 parts of the scale, is not the essential distinction between the different 

 voices; for bass singers can sometimes go very high, and the contralto 

 frequently sings the high notes like soprano singers. The essential 

 difference between the base and tenor voices, and between the contralto 

 and soprano, consists in their tone or timbre, which distinguishes them 

 even when they are singing the same note. The qualities of the bary- 

 tone and mezzo-soprano voices are less marked ; the barytone being in- 

 termediate between the bass and tenor, the mezzo-soprano between the 

 contralto and soprano. They have also a middle position as to pitch in 

 the scale of the male and female voices. 



The differences in the pitch of the male and the female voices 

 depends on the different length of the vocal cords in the two sexes; 

 their relative length in men and women being as three to two. The 

 difference of the two voices in tone or timbre, is owing to the different 

 nature and form of the resounding walls, which in the male larynx are 



