Chap. XIX. 
MUSICAL POWERS. 
335 
row may have been a songster. It is a much more 
remarkable fact that parrots, which belong to a group 
distinct from the Insessores, and have differently-con- 
structed vocal organs, can be taught not only to speak^ 
but to pipe or whistle tunes invented by man, so that 
they must have some musical capacity. Nevertheless 
it would be extremely rash to assume that parrots are* 
descended from some ancient progenitor which was a 
songster. Many analogous cases could be advanced 
of organs and instincts originally adapted for one pur- 
pose, having been utilised for some quite distinct 
purpose.^^ Hence the capacity for high musical de- 
velopment, which the savage races of man possess, may 
be due either to our semi-human progenitors havin^^ 
practised some rude form of music, or simply to their 
having acquired for some distinct purposes the proper 
vocal organs. But in this latter case we must assume 
that they already possessed, as in the above instance of 
the parrots, and as seems to occur with many animals^ 
some sense of melody. 
Music affects every emotion, but does not by i|;self ex- 
cite in us the more terrible emotions of horror, rage, &c. 
It awakens the gentler feelings of tenderness and love^ 
which readily pass into devotion. It likewise stirs up in 
us the sensation of triumph and the glorious ardour for 
war. These powerful and mingled feelings may well give 
rise to the sense of sublimity. We can concentrate, as 
Since this chapter has been printed I have seen a valuable article 
by Mr. Channcey Wright (‘ North Amer. Review/ Oct. 1870, page 293), 
who, in discussing the above subject, remarks, “ There are many con- 
“ sequences of the ultimate laws or uniformities of nature through 
“ which the acquisition of one useful power will bring with it many 
“ resultiug advantages as well as limiting disadvantages, actual or 
“ possible, which the principle of utility may not have comprehended 
“ in its action.” This principle has an important bearing, as I have 
attempted to shew in the second chapter of this work, on the acqui- 
sition by man of some of his mental characteristics. 
