ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 349 



intervals of the octave, that they must insist 

 the ancients had organs of sensation, with which 

 their degenerate posterity are totally unpro- 

 vided. 



Though we cannot attain the more delicate 

 and imperceptible intervals in the song of birds,* 

 yet many of them are capable of whistling tunes 

 with our more gross intervals, as is well known 

 by the common instances of piping buUfincheSjf 

 and Canary birds. 



This, however, arises from mere imitation of 

 what they hear when taken early from the nest ; 

 for if the instrument from which they learn it is 

 out of tune, they as readily pipe the false, as 

 the true notes of the composition. 



The next point of comparison to be made 

 between our music and that of birds is, whether 

 they always sing in the same pitch. 



This, however, I will not presume to answer 

 with any precision, for the reason I have before 

 suggested; I shall, however, without reserve, 

 give the best conjectures I can form on this 

 head. 



* There have been Instances indeed of persons who could 

 whistle the notes of birds, but these are too rare to be argued 

 from. 



t These bullfinches also form a small article of commerce, 

 and are chiefly brought from the neighborhood of Cologne. 



