96 NATURAL HISTORY. 



165. The sharpness or quickness of the per 

 cussion, is a great cause of the loudness, as well as 

 the strength ; as in a whip or wand, if you strike 

 the air with it ; the sharper and quicker you strike 

 it, the louder sound itgiveth. And in playing upon 

 the lute or virginals, the quick stroke or touch is a 

 great life to the sound. The cause is, for that the 

 quick striking cutteth the air speedily ; whereas the 

 soft striking doth rather beat than cut. 



Experiments in consort touching the communication of 



sounds. 



The communication of sounds, as in bellies of 

 lutes, empty vessels, &c. hath been touched &quot; obiter&quot; 

 in the majoration of sounds ; but it is fit also to 

 make a title of it apart. 



166. The experiment for greatest demonstration 

 ot communication of sounds, is the chiming of bells ; 

 where if you strike with a hammer upon the upper 

 part, and then upon the midst, and then upon the 

 lower, you shall find the sound to be more treble 

 and more base, according unto the concave on the 

 inside, though the percussion be only on the outside. 



167. When the sound is created between the 

 blast of the mouth and the air of the pipe, it hath 

 nevertheless some communication with the matter of 

 the sides of the pipe, and the spirits in them con 

 tained ; for in a pipe, or trumpet, of wood, and 

 brass, the sound will be diverse ; so if the pipe be 

 covered with cloth or silk, it will give a diverse sound 

 from that it would do of itself ; so if the pipe be a 



