SEXUAL SELECTION IN BELAlvjok TO MAN 737 



cadences of oratory are derived from preripusly developed 

 musical powers." We can thus understand how it is that 

 music, dancing, song, and poetry are such very ancient 

 arts. We may go even further than this, and, as remarked 

 in a former chapter, believe that musical sounds afforded 

 one of the bases for the development of language." 



As the males of several quadrumanous animals have their 

 vocal organs much more developed than in the females, and 

 as a gibbon, one of the anthropomorphous apes, pours forth 

 a whole octave of musical notes, and may be said to sing, 

 it appears probable that the progenitors of man, either the 

 males or females or both sexes, before acquiring the power 

 of expressing their mutual love in articulate language, en- 

 deavored to charm each other with musical notes and 

 rhythm. So little is known about the use of the voice 

 by the Quadrumana during the season of love, that we 

 have no means of judging whether the habit of singing 

 was first acquired by our male or female ancestors. Women 

 are generally thought to possess sweeter voices than men, 

 and as far as this serves as any guide, we may infer that 

 they first acquired musical powers in order to attract the 

 other sex." But if so, this must have occurred long ago, 



" See tlie very interesting discussion on the "Origin and Function of Music," 

 by Mr. Herbert Speucer, in his collected "Essays," 1858, p. 359. Mr. Spencer 

 comes to an exactly opposite conclusion to that at which I have arrived. He 

 concludes, as did Diderot formerly, that the cadences used in emotional speech 

 afEord the foundation from which music has been developed ; while I conclude 

 that musical notes and rhythm were first acquired by the male or female pro- 

 genitors of mankind for the sake of charming the opposite sex. Thus musical 

 tones became firmly associated with some of the strongest passions an animal is 

 capable of feeling, and are consequently used instinctively, or through associa- 

 tion, when strong emotions are expressed in speech. Mr. Spencer does not ofEer 

 any satisfactory explanation, nor can I, why high or deep notes should be ex- 

 pressive, both with man and the lower animals, of certain emotions. Mr. Spen- 

 cer gives also an interesting discussion on the relations between poetry, recita- 

 tive, and song. 



■"• I find in Lord Monboddo's "Origin of Language," vol. i., 1174, p. 469, 

 that Dr. Blacklock likewise thought "that the first language among men was 

 music, and that before our ideas were expressed by articulate sounds, they were 

 communicated by tones, varied according to difEerent degrees of gravity and 

 acuteness. " 



*' See an interesting discussion on this Bubjeot by Haokel, "Generello 

 Morph.," B. ii., 1866, s. 246, 



