NATURAL HISTORY. 



CENTURY II. 



Experiments in consort touching Music. 



Music, in the practice, hath been well pursued, 

 and in good variety ; but in the theory, and espe 

 cially in the yielding of the causes of the practic, 

 very weakly ; being reduced into certain mystical 

 subtilties of no use and not much truth. We shall, 

 therefore, after our manner, join the contemplative 

 and active part together. 



101. All sounds are either musical sounds, which 

 we call tones ; whereunto there may be an harmony ; 

 which sounds are ever equal ; as singing, the sounds 

 of stringed and wind instruments, the ringing of 

 bells, &c. or immusical sounds, which are ever un 

 equal ; such as are the voice in speaking, all whisper 

 ings, all voices of beasts and birds, except they be 

 singing-birds, all percussions of stones, wood, parch 

 ment, skins, as in drums, and infinite others. 



102. The sounds that produce tones, are ever 

 from such bodies as are in their parts and pores 

 equal ; as well as the sounds themselves are equal ; 

 and such are the percussions of metal, as in 



