15 



the progression of sound about one-twelfth of its velo- 

 city. Density and dryness of the air increase the 

 sound, as the rarefaction and moisture of the air lessen 

 it : hence, in summer time sound moves swifter ; and 

 in Guinea, it has been observed to pass at the rate of 

 10^8 Parisian feet in one second. 



Plutarch says, Deers and horses are, of all irrational 

 creatures, the most affected \vitii music : Mr. Playford 

 says the same thing, and adds, " Myself, as I travelled 

 some years since near Royston, met about twenty stags 

 upon the road, following a bagpipe and violin, which, 

 when the music played, went forward, when it ceased 

 they all stood still; and in this manner they were 

 brought from Yorkshire to Hampton Court. Lions 

 likewise, and elephants are susceptible of the powers of 

 music ; so are many dogs, and most, if not. all, singing 

 birds." A late author gives a stranger account still. 



Monsieur de , captain of the regiment of 



Navarre, was confined in prison six months : he begged 

 leave of the governor that he might send for his lute. 

 After four days he was astonished to ^see, at the time 

 of his playing, the mice come out of their holes and the 

 spiders descend from their webs, which came and formed 

 a circle round him, to hear him with attention. This at 

 first so surprised him that he left off, on which they all 

 retired quietly into their lodgings. It was six days be- 

 fore he recovered from his astonishment ; he then began 

 to play again they came again, and in still increasing 

 numbers, till after a time he found a hundred of them 

 about him. 



I saw a very large and fierce lion which was then kept 

 at. the infirmary at Edinburgh, quite transported with 

 the sound of a bagpipe, and rolling upon its back with 

 the utmost satisfaction. I saw likewise, the old lion in 

 the Tower of London listen with the utmost attention to 

 a German flute : mean time a young tiger leaped up 

 4 " 



