APPENDIX. 68 1 



out of tune, they as readily pipe the falfe, as the 

 true notes of the compofition. 



The next point of comparifon to be made be- 

 tween our mufic and that of birds is, whether they 

 always fing in the fame pitch. 



This, however, I will not prefume to anfwer with 

 any precifion, for the reafon I have before fug- 

 gefted •, I mall, however, without referve, give the 

 bed conjectures I can form on this head. 



If a dozen finging birds of different kinds are 

 heard in the fame room, there is not any difagree- 

 able diffonance (which is not properly refolved), 

 either to my own ear, or to that of others, whole 

 judgment on fuch a point I can more rely. 



At the fame time, as each bird is finging a dif- 

 ferent fong, it is extraordinary that what we call 

 harmony mould not be perpetually violated, as we 

 experience, in what is commonly called a Dutch 

 concert, when feveral tunes are played together. 



The firft requifne to make fuch founds agreeable 

 to the ear is, that all the birds mould fing in the 

 fame key, which I am induced to believe that they 

 do, from the following reafons. 



I have long attended to the finging of birds, but 

 if I cannot have recourfe to an inftrument very 

 foon, I cannot carry the pitch of their notes in 

 my memory, even for a very fhort time. 



I therefore defired a very experienced harpfichord- 

 tuner (who told me he could recollect any particular 

 note which he happened to hear for feveral hours), 



Y y 4 to 



