370 
SOU 
branous tube, and in the latter genus the sac includes a small 
solid body or lapillus: in the interior of this receptacle the 
auditory nerve is expanded. The spinous fishes, in addi¬ 
tion to the hollow of the vestibule and membranous bag 
containing the lapilli, are provided with semicircular canals. 
The cartilaginous fishes have the vestibule, the sacculus 
for the lapilli, semicircular canals, and a fenestra ovalis, 
defended by an operculum composed of a membrane and 
the skin, whilst in the osseous fishes the whole organ is en¬ 
closed by bone. To the labyrinth of the serpent tribe, 
which is very similar to the internal ear of the cartilaginous 
fishes, there is added an ossiculum closing the fenestra 
ovalis. In one of this order, the genus csecilia, and in 
almost the whole of the four-footed reptiles, a membrana 
tympani is connected with this ossiculum. In the other 
classes of birds and mammalia, we find an external passage 
leading to the membrane, and in the last of these an ex¬ 
ternal cartilaginous auricle is annexed. 
The obvious inference drawn from this view will be, that 
the whole of the apparatus, external to the labyrinth, is not 
absolutely necessary to the perceiving of sounds, because 
many creatures we know are susceptible of the impression, 
who are entirely destitute of these parts of the organ. 
As to the uses therefore, of the different parts of the ear, 
we may conjecture that the portio dura, or facial nerve, is 
a nerve of touch, which perceives the violence of vibrations 
without having the power of distinguishing accurately, 
variations of tone. That from its extensive expansion of 
the face, it also takes cognizance of the direction of sound. 
3dly. That it excites the muscles of the little bones of the 
labyrinth, so as to relax the membrana tympanum. It is 
clear that the effect of this must be to deaden the intensity 
of the impression on the auditory nerve. This is most im¬ 
portant and necessary; a sudden and violent sound, such as 
we know is extremely painful to our nerves takes place; the 
portio dura relaxes the tympanum, and thus deadens its force, 
and saves the portio mollis from injury. 
The nervous expansions in the semicircular canals, 
cochlea, &c„ have been supposed to take cognizance of the 
differences of tones. This opinion has been objected to, 
because these parts are found in the inferior animals, who 
cannot be supposed to require any such power. This objec¬ 
tion appears to us of no force, because it is clear that the 
power of distinguishing one noise from another, involves 
more than a mere perception of loudness. The fish could 
only distinguish the noise produced by its enemy, from that 
produced by its prey, by an ear uniting perception of 
loudness and tone. The same is equally clear of reptiles, 
and still more of the mammalia. The power of distinguish¬ 
ing the geometrical proportions of sounds, and of deriving 
pleasure from the perception, constitutes another, the musical 
sense which requires organs more delicate, perhaps, but not 
of a different nature. This sense is enjoyed by man, and 
a few animals only. 
SOUND, a hamlet of England, in Cheshire; 3 miles 
from Nantwich. 
SOUND, or Oresound, the strait or narrow sea between 
the island of Zealand, in Denmark, and the continent of 
Sweden, through which vessels pass from the North sea into 
the Baltic. It is about four miles across, and the Danes 
exact a toll on all ships that pass through the strait. The 
English, Dutch, French, and Swedes, pay one per cent.; all 
other nations one and a quarter. Out of this toll the king 
of Denmark maintains all the light-houses on the coast, from 
Copenhagen to the extremity of North Jutland. 
SOUNDBOARD, s. Board which propagates the sound 
in organs.—Try it without any soundboard along, only 
liarpwise at one end of the string. Bacon. 
As in an organ, from one blast of wind. 
To many a row of pipes the soundboard breathes. Milton. 
SOUNDING, adj. Sonorous; having a magnificent 
sound.—Obsolete words may then be revived, when more 
SOU 
sounding or more significant than those in practice- 
Dryden. 
SO'UNDING, s. [from To sound, to try depth.] Act of 
trying the depth of the water with a plummet, [from sound, 
a noise.] Act of emitting a sound; the sound emitted.— 
The so unding again of the mountains, [in the margin, the 
echo.] Ezek. 
SOUNDLESS, adj. Too deep to be reached by the 
plummet; not to be fathomed. 
Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat. 
While he upon your soundless deep doth ride. Shakspeare. 
Without sound. 
They rob the Hybla bees, 
And leave them honeyless..—Not stingless too ?— 
O yes, and soundless too; 
For you have stol’n their buzzing. Shakspeare. 
SOUNDLY, adv. Healthily; heartily; lustily; stoutly : 
strongly. 
When Duncan is asleep. 
Whereto the rather shall this hard day’s journey 
Soundly invite him. Shakspeare. 
Truly; rightly.—The wisest are always the readiest to 
acknowledge, that soundly to judge the law is the weightiest 
thing which any man can take upon him. Hooker. —Fast; 
closely: it is used of sleeping. 
Now when that idle dream was to him brought, 
Unto that elfen knight he bad him fly. 
Where he slept soundly, void of evil thought. Spenser. 
SOUNDNESS, s. Health ; heartiness. 
I would I had that corporal soundness now. 
As when thy father and myself in friendship 
First tried our soldiership. Shakspeare. 
Truth: rectitude; incorrupt state.—In the end very few 
excepted, all became subject to the sway of time: other 
odds there was none amongst them, saving only that some 
fell sooner away, and some later from the soundness of be¬ 
lief. Hooker. —Strength ; solidity.—This presupposed, it 
may stand then very well with strength and soundness of 
reason, even thus to answer. Hooker. 
To SOUP, v. a. [pupan, Sax. sorbere; sup a, Su. Goth, 
the same.] To sup ; to swallow.—Deeth is sopun up in 
victorie. Wicliffc. —To breathe out; to draw out. [ppeopan, 
Sax. exhaurire.]—We pronounce, by the confession of 
strangers, as sweetly, smoothly, and moderately, as any of 
the northern nations of the world, who are noted to soupe 
their words out of the throat with fat and full spirits. Cam¬ 
den. 
To SOUP, v. n. [ppeopan, Sax. verrere.] To sweep; 
to pass with pomp. 
He vaunts his voice upon an hired stage, 
With high-set steps and princely carriage, 
Now souping in side robes of royalty. Bp. Hall. 
Methinks I hear swart Martius cry. 
Souping along in war’s fein’d maskerie. 
By Lais starrie front he’ll forthwith die! Marston. 
SOUP, s. [from pupan, Sax. to soup. See To Soup.] 
Strong decoction of flesh for the table. 
Spongy morells in strong ragousts are found. 
And in the soup the slimy snail is drown’d. Gay. 
SOUR, adj. [pup, pupig. Sax.; sur, Welsh.] Acid; 
austere; pungent on the palate with astringency, as vinegar, 
or unripe fruit.—All sour things, as vinegar, provoke appe¬ 
tite. Bacon. —Harsh of temper ; crabbed; peevish; mo¬ 
rose ; severe. 
He was a scholar. 
Lofty and sour to them that lov’d him not. Shakspeare. 
Afflictive; painful. 
Let me embrace these sour adversities; 
For wise men say it is the wisest course. Shakspeare. 
Expressing 
