NATURAL HISTORY. 



CENTURY III. 



Experiments in consort touching the motion of sounds, 

 in what lines they are circular, oblique, straight, up 

 wards, downwards, forwards, backwards, 



201. All sounds whatsoever move round; that 

 is to say, on all sides ; upwards, downwards, for 

 wards, and backwards. This appeareth in all in 

 stances. 



202. Sounds do not require to be conveyed to 

 the sense in a right line, as visibles do, but may be 

 arched ; though it be true, they move strongest ina 

 right line ; which nevertheless is not caused by the 

 Tightness of the line, but by the shortness of the 

 distance ; &quot; linea recta brevissima.&quot; And therefore 

 we see if a wall be between, and you speak on the 

 one side, you hear it on the other ; which is not 

 because the sound passeth through the wall, but 

 archeth over the wall. 



203. If the sound be stopped and repercussed, it 

 cometh about on the other side in an oblique line. 

 So, if in a coach one side of the boot be down, and 

 the other up, and a beggar beg on the close side ; 



