286 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



where in these solitudes, though the ground in the 

 neighbourhood of the numerous streams, is quite 

 swampy, especially in the rainy season. We first 

 observed in these woods the notes of a greyish 

 brown bird, probably a thrush, which frequents the 

 bushes and ground in damp low w^oods, and sings 

 with numerous repetitions through the musical 

 scale, from to A'^ (of the German scale), so regu- 

 larly, that not a single note is wanting. It com- 

 monly sings each note four or five times over, and 

 then proceeds imperceptibly to tlie following 

 quarter tone. It is usual to deny to the songsters 

 of the American forests all melody and expression, 

 and to allow them no pre-eminence but splen- 

 dour of plumage. But if in general the pretty 

 natives of the torrid zone are more distinguished by 

 the beauty of their colours, than by fulness and 

 power of note, and seem inferior to our nightingale 

 in clearness and melodiousness of tone, yet this 

 little bird, among others, is a proof that they are 

 at least not destitute of the principles of melody. 

 How far the musical improvement of man has 

 already had an influence on the notes of birds, 

 remains an interesting subject for physiological 

 investigation. It is at least conceivable that when 

 the almost inarticulate tones of a degenerate race 

 of men, no longer resounds in the woods of Brazil, 

 many of the feathered songsters will also produce 

 more refined melodies. Besides the birds of the 

 forest, the attention of the zoologist is claimed by 



