hort, they are
also thick in proportion, and the shield-pyramid muscles are more
powerful than the opposing ring-shield muscles, so that there is less
tension. I shall be asked how I can prove this tension theory, and my
reply is this: The diameter of the vocal ligaments depends in a large
measure on the magnitude of the shield-pyramid muscles. If, therefore,
the ligaments are exceptionally thick, the muscles just named must of
necessity be very powerful, and can easily resist the pulling of the
ring-shield muscles. If, on the contrary, the ligaments are
exceptionally thin, it is equally certain that the shield-pyramid
muscles are weak in proportion, and then the stretching muscles can
easily overcome their resistance.

* * * * *

I may add that I came to the above conclusions about the various classes
of voices years ago, when commencing the study of this subject. Not only
have I never since seen any reason to alter my views--although I have
not failed to notice and carefully examine the theories of others
denying my doctrine--but I am more than ever convinced that my
explanations are correct. I have now the gratification of seeing my
theory confirmed by so great an authority as Dr. Merkel, of Leipzig, who
most elaborately explains the subject in his latest work on the larynx,
to which I have already alluded in these pages.

* * * * *

Besides the factors enumerated above, there are, no doubt, others which
are also of consequence in determining the particular kind of voice to
be produced by this vocal apparatus or by that; as, for instance, the
windpipe, or the resonator, or both. The capacity of the chest--nay, the
structure of the whole body, may have a more or less direct influence
upon it. But there are absolutely no statistics to proceed upon, and in
the absence of these it is vain to indulge in any speculations on the
subject.

MOVEMENTS OF THE VOICEBOX, OR LARYNX, WHICH CAN BE SEEN OR FELT.

The voicebox in a man is situated almost exactly in the middle of the
throat; in woman its position is, for reasons partly explained on page
64, considerably higher. It moves downwards in inspiration, and upwards
in expiration; and the more vigorously we breathe, the more marked are
these movements. In the act of swallowing the voicebox rises quickly,
and in yawning it goes down so completely that the whole windpipe may
vanish into the chest, and ev