[ 2 7 & ] 
was at its full growth, by procuring an operator 
who caponifed a young blackbird of about fix weeks 
old ; as it died, however, foon afterwards, and I 
have never repeated the experiment, I can only con- 
jecture with regard to what might have been the 
confequences of it. 
Both Pliny * and the London poulterers agree 
that a capon does not crow, which 1 fhould conceive 
to arife from the mufcles of the larynx never ac- 
quiring the proper degree of ftrength, which feems 
to be requisite to the Tinging of a bird, from Mr. 
Hunter’s diffedtions. 
But it will perhaps be afked, why this operation 
fhould not improve the notes of a nettling, as much 
as it is fuppofed to contribute to the greater perfection 
of the human voice. 
To this I anfwer, that cattration by no means in- 
fures any fuch confequence ; for the voices of much 
the greater part of Italian eunuchs are To indifferent, 
that they have no means of procuring a livelihood but 
by copying mufic, and this is one of the reafons why 
fo few compofitions are publifhed in Italy, as it would 
ttarve this refufe of fociety. 
But it may be faid, that there hath been a Fari- 
nelli and a Manzoli, whofe voices were fo dittin- 
guifhedly fuperior. 
To this I again anfwer, that the catalogue of fuch 
names would be a very fhort one j and that we at- 
tribute thofe effects to cattration, which fhould rather 
be afcnbed to the education of thefe fingers. 
* Lib. x. c, 21, 
Cattration 
