232 The Natural History 



ing off the small end, splits the shell in two with his long 

 fore-teeth, as a man does with his knife ; the second 

 nibbles a hole with his teeth, so regular as if drilled with 

 a wimble, and yet so small that one would wonder how 

 the kernel can be extracted through it ; while the last 

 picks an irregular ragged hole with its bill : but as this 

 artist has no paws to hold the nut firm while he pierces it, 

 like an adroit workman, he fixes it, as it were in a vice, 

 in some cleft of a tree, or in some crevice ; when, standing 

 over it, he perforates the stubborn shell. We have often 

 placed nuts in the chink of a gate-post where nut-hatches 

 have been known to haunt, and have always found that 

 those birds have readily penetrated them. While at work 

 they make a rapping noise that may be heard at a 

 considerable distance. 



You that understand both the theory and practical part 

 of music may best inform us why harmony or melody 

 should so strangely affect some men, as it were by 

 recollection, for days after a concert is over. What I 

 mean the following passage will most readily explain : 



" Praehabebat porr6 vocibus humanis, instrumentisque 

 harmonicis musicam illam avium : non quod alia quoque 

 non delectaretur ; sed quod ex musicd humana lelinque- 

 retur in animo continens quaedam, attentionemque et 

 somnum conturbans agitatio ; dum ascensus, exscensus, 

 tenores, ac mutationes illae sonorum et consonantiarum 

 euntque redeuntque per phantasiam: — cum nihil tale relin- 

 qui possit ex modulationibus avium, quce, quod non sunt 

 perinde a nobis imitabiles, non possunt perinde internam 

 facultatem commovere." — Gassendus in Vitd Peireskii. 



This curious quotation strikes me much by so well 

 representing my own case, and by describing what I have 

 so often felt, but never could so well express. When I 

 hear fine music I am haunted with passages therefrom 

 night and day; and especially at first waking, which, by 

 their importunity, give me more uneasiness than pleasure : 

 elegant lessons still tease my imagination, and recur 

 irresistibly to my recollection at seasons, and even when 

 I am desirous of thinking of more serious matters. 



I am, etc. 



