The Descent of Man

tion of one useful power will bring with it many
resulting advantages as well as limiting disadvantages,
actual or possible, which the principle
of utility may not have comprehended in
its action." As I have attempted to shew in an
early chapter of this work, this principle has an
important bearing on the acquisition by man of
some of his mental characteristics.) Hence the
capacity for high musical development which
the savage races of man possess, may be due
either to the practice by our semi-human progenitors
of some rude form of music, or simply
to their having acquired the proper vocal organs
for a different purpose. But in this latter
case we must assume, as in the above instance
of parrots, and as seems to occur with many
animals, that they already possessed some sense
of melody.
Music arouses in us various emotions, but not
the more terrible ones of horror, fear, rage, etc.
It awakens the gentler feelings of tenderness