380 ON THE HUMAN FACULTIES 



of the voice and tongue, called into action by 

 the dictate of the will ; and that, as applied 

 by man, it is a property possessed by no other 

 animal. But we cannot so easily explain, from 

 the structure of the parts, (that is, in a physical 

 sense) why man should be so endowed ; since 

 admitting all the perfection bestowed on human 

 mechanism, yet we do not see that great difference 

 in this instance which should prevent the brute 

 species (some of them at least) from expressing 

 their ideas by language, with as much facility as 

 man. We must, therefore, look to some other 

 source to explain this phenomenon ; and we shall 

 find it depends upon example in the first instance* 

 leading to mechanical imitation; and next, upon 

 intellectual comparison and association of words 

 with things, assisted by education and subsequent 

 experience. 



All animals, more especially of the class to 

 which man belongs, possess the means through 

 monotonous tones, ot expressing their ordinary 

 feelings, and apparently of conveying them to 

 those of their own species, so as to be under- 

 stood ; and in the bird class, we see instances, 

 where, by instruction, distinct words, and even 

 many sentences can be articulated, so as to be 

 mistaken for human utterance. But we have 

 no instance, so far as our judgment can decide, 

 but in man, where a mutual communication of 

 varied and separate ideas can be effected through 



