OBSERVATIONS 071 
l82 
Both Pliny and the London poulterers agree, 
that a capon does not crow, which I fhould 
conceive to arife from the mufcles of the la- 
rynx never accpiiring the proper degree of 
flrength, which feems to be requisite to the 
finging of a bird, from Mr Hunter’s diffec- 
- tions. 
But it will perhaps be afked, why this opera- 
tion fhould not improve the notes of a neiiling, 
as much as it is fuppofed to contribute to the 
greater perfeftion of the human voice ? 
To this I anfwer, that caflration. oy no means 
infures any fuch confequence ; for the voices of 
much the greater part of Italian eunuchs are fo 
Indifferent, that they have no means of procu- 
ring a livelihood but by copying mufic ; and this 
is one of the reafons why fo few compofitions 
are pubbfhed in Italy, as it would flarve this re- 
fuie of fociety. 
But it rnay be laid, that there hath been a 
Farinelli and a Manzoli, whofe voices were fo 
diftinguifhedly fuperior. 
To this 1 again anfwer, that the catalogue of 
fuch names would be a very fhort one ; and 
that we attribute thofe effedls to caflration, 
which fhould rather be afcribed to the educa- 
tion of thofe fingers. 
Caflration commonly leaves the human voice 
at the fame pitch as when the operation is per- 
formed ; but the eunuch, from that time, is 
