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common inftances of piping Bullfinches *, and Ca- 
nary-birds. 
This, however, arifesfrom mere imitation of what 
they hear when taken early from the neft; for if the 
inftrument from which they learn is out of tune, 
they as readily pipe the falfe, as the true notes of the 
compofition. 
The next point of companion to be made be- 
tween our mulic and that of birds is, whether they 
always ling in the fame pitch. 
This, however, I will not prefume to anfwer with 
any precifion, for the reafon I have before fuggefted; 
I fhall, however, without referve, give the beft con- 
jectures I can form on this head. 
If a dozen finging birds of different kindsareheard 
in the fame room, there is not any difagreeable diffo- 
nance (which is not properly refolved), either to 
my own ear, or to that of others, whofe judgement 
on fuch a point I can more rely. 
At the fame time, as each bird is finging a different 
fong, it is extraordinary that what we call harmony 
fh'ould not be perpetually violated, as we experience, 
in what is commonly called a Dutch concert, when 
feveral tunes are played together. 
The firft requifite to make fuch founds agreeable 
to the ear is, that all the birds fhould 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, 
* Thefe Bullfinches alfo form a fmall article of commerce, 
and are chiefly brought from the neighbourhood of Cologne. 
Vol. LXIII. Nn I cannot 
