LOCAL KATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 64 



by Societies like ours to promote investigations of the highest 

 interest and scientific importance. But in addition to the 

 subjects suggested in the remarks just quoted, there is a vast 

 field of interesting research open to the members of our 

 Society. Foremost may be placed marine zoology, for 

 though the sand and mud of our coast is not so favourable to 

 the existence of many forms of animal life as the rocky 

 coasts of the south-west of England, yet much remains for 

 investigation. Folkestone is also well situated for observing 

 the arrival and departure of our summer migrant birds, and 

 many interesting questions in connection with this subject, at 

 present obscure, might thus be* cleared up. It is moreover 

 very probable that one or two species of birds which are 

 found in plenty on the opposite coast of France, but which 

 have as yet occurred very sparingly in England, might on 

 further search prove to be more frequent in this district. 

 Entomology also affords a most encouraging subject, as many 

 very rare insects have been found in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of Folkestone, and there only. 



In this slight sketch I have endeavoured to point out how 

 much it is in the power of our members to forward the study 

 of Natural History, without going beyond the limits of the 

 locality in which the Society is situated. 



C. H. DASHWOOD. 



THE MECHANISM OE THE HUMAN VOICE. 



Read before the Society, March 11th. 



I purpose to-night to give a short description of the Larynx, 

 that most wonderful and complex organ by which the Human 

 Voice is produced. We hear a person speak, or hum a tune, 

 and it appears to be a very simple and easy act, requiring 

 little effort and less thought, while in reality it is a most com- 

 plicated operation, requiring an instrument of marvellous 

 delicacy and intricate construction to perform it. 



All sonorous vibrations may be divided into "Aloises'* 

 and "Sounds." Noises are irregular impulses communicated 

 I 



