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Caftration commonly leaves the human voice at 
the fame pitch as when the operation is performed ; 
but the eunuch, from that time, is educated with a 
view only to his future appearance on the opera 
ftage ; he therefore manages his voice to greater ad- 
vantage, than thofe who have not fo early and con- 
fiant inftru&ion. 
Conlidering the fize of many fmging birds, it is 
rather amazing at what a diftance their notes may be 
heard. 
I think I may venture to fay, that a nightingale 
may be very clearly diftinguifhed at more than half 
a mile *, if the evening is calm. I have alfo ob- 
ferved the breath of a robin (which exerted itfelf) 
fo condenfed in a frofty morning, as to be very vi- 
lible. 
To make the companion, however, with ac- 
curacy, between the loudnefs of a bird’s and the hu- 
man voice, a perfon fhould be fent to the fpot from 
whence the bird is heard ; I fhould rather conceive 
that, upon fuch trial, the nightingale would be di- 
ftinguilhed further than the man. 
It muft have ftruck every one, that, in palling 
under a houfe where the windows are fhut, the ring- 
ing of a bird is ealily heard, when, at the fame 
time, a converfation cannot be fo, though an ani- 
mated one. 
Moll people, who have not attended to the notes 
of birds, fuppofe that thofe of every fpecies ling 
* Monf. de Buffon fays, that the quadruped which he terms 
the huarine , may be heard at the diftance of a league. Ornith. 
Tom. I. 
exactly 
