ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 
the notes, or song, which is supposed to be pe- 
culiar to each species, I shall now make some 
general observations on their singing; though 
perhaps the subject may appear to many a very 
minute one. 
Every poet, indeed, speaks with raptures of 
the harmony of the groves; yet those even, 
who have good musical ears, seem to pay little 
attention to it, but as a pleasing noise. 
I am also convinced (though it may seem 
rather paradoxical), that the inhabitants of ° 
London distinguish more accurately, and know 
more on this head, than of all the other parts 
of the island taken together. 
This seems to arise from two causes. 
The first is, that we have not more musical 
ideas which are innate, than we have ‘of lan- 
guage ; and therefore those even, who have the - 
happiness to have organs which are capable of 
receiving a gratification from this sixth sense 
{as it hath been called by some) require, how- 
ever, the best instruction. 
The orchestra of the opera, which is confined 
to the metropolis, hath diffused a good style of 
playing over the other bands of the capital, 
which is, by degrees, communicated to the 
fidler and ballad-singer in the streets; the or- 
gans in every church, as well as those of the 
Zz 2 
