CEREBRAL DEVELOPMENT OF BIRDS. 



93 



It is a matter of surprise that phrenologists have not dis- 

 covered greater differences between birds possessed of the 

 musical faculty, and those devoid of it. Vimont mentions, 

 as the result of his anatomical researches, that the differ- 

 ence of organization between the brain and skull of birds 

 which sing, and those which do not, is not appreciable ex- 

 cept in the different individuals of a species, or the mem- 

 bers of the same genus.* 



After pointing out the absurdities of Gall, in laying 

 down this organ, so that by the test he has given, the dif- 

 ferent families of ducks, geese, and swans (especially the 

 last),t ought to be largely endowed with musical talent, 

 Yimont localises the organ in question in a spot imme- 

 diately behind the centre of the posterior orbitar border. J 

 He gives figures of two species of grosbeak (Pitylus and 

 Coccothraustes ), and the organ of Tune is large in the one 

 which sings, and small in that which is not musical. 



The manner in which Yimont hurries over his con- 

 sideration of this organ, leads one to suspect that he has 

 at length found a faculty and organ at variance with 

 each other, and is apprehensive of exposing the hollow 

 foundations of his system, should he proceed farther. 



* Traite de Phrenologie, p. 399. 



+ Perhaps Plato, Aristotle, and Ovid are in the right when they 

 talk of the musical notes of the dying swan ; although the less cre- 

 dulous authors of modern times seem as sceptical on this point as 

 Sir T. Brown, who in his 44 Vulgar Errors" quaintly enough insinu- 

 ates, 44 Surely he that is bit by the tarantula, shall never be cured 

 by this kind of musick ; in like hopes, we expect to hear of the har- 

 mony of the spheres." Or it may be that the swans of our own de- 

 generate days have lost the art of singing possessed by their ances- 

 tors of the Cayster, and other classic waters, while nature, when 

 she deprived them of the faculty of tune, has left the bump behind. 



t Traite' de Phrenologie. p. 399. 



