67 OUR ORCHIDS. 



and relax them, and it is for this reason practice is so useful 

 to singers, s it developes the two sets of antagonistic muscles, 

 and gives greater power over both or either, according as we 

 practice more at one or other end of the scale. Accuracy of 

 singing, d-^^pends on the precision with which one can volun- 

 tarily regulate and adjust the opposing contractions of these 

 two sets of muscles, (the Crico Thyroid and Thyro Arytenoid) 

 this of course can only be attained by careful practice. 



The quality of a voice — bass, barytone, tenor or soprano, 

 mezzo-soprano or contralto, depends on the length of the chords 

 and their elasticity, the shape of the larynx, resonance of 

 the chest, &c. 



That wonderful invention of modern days, the Laryngiscope 

 has revealed some curious facts about the different actions of 

 the vocal chords in producing different sounds and notes. 

 Thus we see that in making a fair resonant chest note the 

 vocal chords vibrate throughout their entire length and sub- 

 stance. The vibrations become more rapid and ample as the 

 sounds become sharper, and the opening between the chords 

 is rectilinear ; the tension is also greater than in falsetto 

 notes. Whereas in falsetto notes the chords vibrate only on 

 their free borders ; the parts constituting their base not taking 

 any part in producing the sound. The longitudinal tension 

 is also much feebler than in chest notes, and the opening of 

 the glottis is elliptical instead of rectilinear. 



C. E. FITZ-GERALD. 



(To he continued. J 



OUR ORCHIDS. 



We take this opportunity of reminding our readers that 

 June is the month for the flowering of most of the rarer 

 species of this beautiful and interesting family. Kent is 

 particularly famous for them, in fact, one species Ophrys 

 arachnites the Late Spider Orchis has hitherto been chronicled 

 only from Folkestone and Sittingbourne. As the East Kent 

 Natural History Society are at present engaged in preparing 

 materials for a new flora of this part of the county, we shall 

 thankfully receive any assistance from our readers in furthering 



