340 
APPENDIX. VI. 
Savoyards, contribute likewise to this improve- 
ment of musical faculties in the Londoners. 
If the singing of the ploughman in the coun- 
try is therefore compared with that of the Lon- 
don blackguard, the superiority is infinitely on 
the side of the latter; and the same may be 
observed in comparing the voice of a country — 
girl and London house-maid, as it is very un-— 
common to hear the former sing tolerably in 
tune. 
I do not mean by this, to assert that the in- 
habitants of the country are not born with as 
good musical organs; but only, that they have 
not the same opportunities of learning from 
others, who play in tune themselves. 
The other reason for the inhabitants of London 
judging better in relation to the song of birds, 
arises from their hearing each bird sing dis- 
tinctly, either in their own or their neighbors’ 
shops; as also from a bird continuing much 
longer in song whilst in a cage, than when at’ 
liberty; the cause of which I shall endeavour 
hereafter to explain. | 
They who live in the country, on the other 
hand, do not hear birds sing in their woods for 
above two months in the year, when the confu- 
sion of notes prevents their attending to the 
song of any particular bird; nor does he con- 
