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APPENDIX. VL 
but by the proportionable loudness of its 
notes.* 
I should rather conceive, it is for the same 
reason that no hen-bird sings, because this ta- 
lent would be still more dangerous during in- 
cubation; which may possibly also account for 
the inferiority in point of plumage. 
I shall now consider how far the singing of 
birds resembles our known musical intervals, 
which are never marked more minutely than to 
half notes; because, though we can form every 
gradation from half-note to half-note, by draw- - 
ing the finger gently over the string of a violin, 
or covering by degrees the hole of a flute; yet 
we cannot produce such a minute interval at 
command, when a quarter-note for example 
might be required. 
Ligon, indeed, in his history of Barbadoes, 
hath the following passage: ‘‘ The next bird is 
“* of the color of the fieldfare; but the head is 
“* too large for the body; and for that reason 
“‘ she is called a counsellor. She performs 
“that with her voice, which no instrument 
“can play, or voice can sing; and that is 
“¢ quarter-notes, her song being composed of 
* For the same reason, most large birds are wilder than the 
smaller ones. 
¢ 
