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Show 332 SEXUAL SELECTION: MAN. J'AilT If. lutely mute excepting at this season. Both sexes of otlJCr species, or the females alone, usc their voices ns n lovecall. Consitloring these facts, and that tho vocal organs of some quadrupeds are much more largely developed in the malo than in the female, either permanently or trmporarily during th breeding season; an<l considerinn · that in most of tho lower classes the sounds proc1ucec1 by tho males, serve not only to call but to excite or all nrc the female, it is a surprising fact that we have not a yet any good evidence that these organs nrc used by m:tle mn,mmnls to chnrm tho females. Tho American Mycetes ca,1·aya perhaps forms an exception, a· does more probably one of those apes which come nc.:trcr to man, namely, the Hylobates a.r~ilis. This gibbon has an extromel y loud but musical voice. Mr. W aterhonso state ,28 "It appeared to me that in ascending and ''descending tho scale, tho intervals were always exactly '· half-tones; and I am sure that th highest note waR " tho exact octavo to tho lowest. The quality of tho "11otes is very musical; and I do not doubt that a good "violinist would be able to giv a correct idea of tho " gibbon's composition, excepting as regards its loud" ness." Mr. Waterhouse then gives the notes. Professor Owen, who is likewise a musician, confirms tho foregoing statement, and remarks that this gihbon '·alone of brute mnmmals may be said to sing." It appears to be much excited after its performance. Unfortunately its habits have never been closely obsenod in a state of nature; but from the analogy of almo. t all other animals, it is highly probable that it utters its mn ·ical notes especially during tho season of courtship. ~8 Given in W. C. L.Murtin's 'Gcncrol Intro<luct. to Nat. Ilist. of :M:nmm. Animal!:!,' 1841, p. '1:32; Owen, 'Analomy of Vertcbrah•s.' ,·ol. iii. p. GOO. C:I.\P. XIX. l\1USICAJ, POWEllS. 333 The perception, if not the enjoyment, of musical cadences and of rhythm is probaldy common to all animals, and no donbt aopends on the common physio] oO'ical nature of their nervous systems. Even Crusta~ cans, which arc not capable of producing any voluntary sound, possess certain auditory hairs, which have been Reen to vibrate when the proper musical notcR are strnck29 It is well known that some dogs howl when hearing particubr tones. Seals apparently appreciate mu. ic, ancl their fondness for it "was well ''known to tho ancients, and is often taken advantage of by the bunters at the present day." 30 ·with all those animals, namely insects, amphibians, and birds, the males of which dming the season of courtship incessantly proclnce musical notes or mere rhythmical :ounds, we mu t believe that the females are able to appreciate them, and are thus excited or charmed ; otherwise the incessant efforts of the males and the complex structures often possessed exclusively by them would be useless. With roan song i.· generally admitted to be tho basis or origin of instrume1ital music. As neither the enjoyment nor the capacity of producing musical notes arc fuculties of the least direct use to roan in reference to his ordinary habits of life, they must be ranked amongst the most mysterious with which he is endowed. They are present, though in a very rude and as it appears almost latent condition, in men of all mces, even the most savage ; but so different is the taste of the difi'erent races, that our music gives not the least pleasure to savages, and their music is to us hideous and unmeaning. Dr. Seemann, in some interesting 29 Helmholtz, ''l'hcoric Phys. de ln. Mui:!iquc,' 1868, p. 187. 30 Mr. H. Brown, in ' l'1·oc. ~oo. Soc.' 1868, p. 410. |