152 THE VOICE. 



formed. In all other wind instruments it is necessary 

 to have different pipes or orifices to produce different 

 notes. But the wonder of the mechanism of the glottis 

 is, that, from one and the same aperture, arise all the 

 various modulations of which the human voice is ca- 

 pable. 



The power of voice and language is not however, 

 confined to the human species. A kind Providence 

 has bestowed this means of communication upon oth- 

 er animals, so far as is necessaiy for them — and every 

 one must be sensible they would labor under great 

 privations, if they were incapable of some language 

 to make known their wants, which they could not 

 do in a variety of cases, as at remote distances, or 

 in the dark, without the^ assistance of sound. 



" Observe the different cries of the cock" says 

 a lively German writer, " either when a dog, or 

 a stranger enters the yard, or when a haivlc, or some 

 similar bird of prey, presents itself, or when he calls 

 to or answers his mates. What mean those lamen- 

 table cries of the turkey 1 Behold her chicks, all on 

 a sudden concealing themselves, and lying so quiet, 

 that one would think they were dead. The mother 

 looks upwards, and her anxiety is increased ; but what 

 does she see ? a black point scarcely distinguishable, 

 but which proves to be a bird of prey, which could 

 not escape her vigilance. The bird of prey disap- 

 pears, and the hen sets up a cry of joy. The language 

 of the dog is so copious, various, and expressive, that 

 it would be almost sufficient to fill a dictionary. 



