50 FACULTIES OP BIRDS. 



The internal parts of the ear in birds are much 

 less complicated than in man and quadrupeds ; but, 

 \vithout going- into the minute particulars of difference, 

 we shall only mention one peculiarity, which is, that 

 while the chamber of the drum communicates with 

 three large cavities in the adjacent bony plates, these 

 again communicate by an equal number of openings 

 with the drum in the same side, one of them extending 

 over the skull to its fellow on the other side. Sir 

 Everard Home has observed a similar kind of com- 

 munication by means of the cells of the skull in the 

 elephant*. We have little doubt that the provision 

 made for rendering birds more buoyant, consisting of 

 air-vessels extended from the lungs throughout the 

 body, and even to the bones themselves, contributes 

 to render the vibrations of the air more distinct, 

 muffled as they must always partially be by the 

 feathers of the bird. 



The faculty of imitating sounds possessed by 

 certain birds, proves that their hearing must be 

 exceedingly delicate ; and though we suspend our 

 belief of the great musical talents which some birds 

 are said to have derived from education, we find many 

 well-attested instances of a delicate ear in species by 

 no means remarkable for vocal execution. Madame 

 Piozzi gives an account of a tame pigeon, which 

 answered by gesticulation to every note of a harp- 

 sichord. As often as she began to play, the pigeon 

 hurried to the concert with every indication of 

 rapturous delight. A false note produced in the 

 bird evident tokens of displeasure, and if frequently 

 repeated, it lost all temper and tore her hands -f. 



A no less remarkable instance of the effect of 

 music on a pigeon is related by Lockman in his 

 reflections upon operas, prefixed to his musical drama 



* Comp. Anat. f Letters from France and Italy. 



