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The Call.

The Answer.

b

In the West Indies the giant cockroach is a noted reveller when the family are asleep. He makes a noise like a smart rapping of the knuckles on a table, three or four sometimes answering each other. On this account he is called the drummer; and they often beat up such a row, that none but good sleepers can rest for them.

The gnat, for his size, produces the most powerful and audible tone. He may be called the trumpeter of the insect orchestra. The clear and welldefined note which he makes, is on A in the second space.

In the night-time, on waking out of sleep, I have, at first, taken it for the sound of a post-horn at a remote distance. Had the ancients referred his note to a corresponding string upon the lyre, we should have had a clue to some of their musical scales, which at present lie hid in mystery. Naturalists differ in opinion as to the part of the insect which produces this sound.

Aristophanes, the Greek comedian, by way of ridicule, introduces Socrates debating this question with his scholars :

ἀνήρετ' αὐτὸν Χαιρεφῶν ὁ Σφήττιος,
οπότερα τὴν γνώμην ἔχοι, τας ἐμπίδας
κατὰ τὸ στόμ ἄδειν, ἢ κατὰ τοὐῤῥοπυγιον.

-Vide ''The Clouds,' line 156.

CHAPTER XV.

VIOLONCELLO.

THIS instrument claims but little of our attention when simply performing the bass part to a composition, that being an employ too menial for an exhibition of its powers. Like the violin, its most striking properties are to be shown upon the first and fourth string. Corelli, in the whole of his sonatas, has scarcely touched the lowest chord, upon which Beethoven has wrought such dark effects.* The tone of the first string is plaintive, and full of sensibility; and, when used in solo, has a charm of voice that is delightful. The writer was present at a grand ballet in the Academy of Music at Paris, in which the twelve violoncellos took the air in all the minor movements, accompanied by the violins, violas, and double basses. The effect was singularly beautiful, and not to be described for its touching melancholy.

* Cherubini has a most striking passage for the lowest string in the overture to Les deux Journées.

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BALLAD.

3

ANDANTE.

When Jamie had left me, And bade me a-

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lover for aye. My So'ger SO

clever My bonnie brave

lover, O Jamie! O Jamie! My lover for

aye.

My Mither would ha' me

Forsake him I know;

And marry another,

But- no no no no:

2nd Verse.

Tho' Jamie has neither Gude houses or land; Yet Jamie's becoming, I'll ge Lim my hard.

To the war d.

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