Now as _Direct Vision_ has thus been improved, so likewise _Direct Hearing_ partly has already receiv'd, and partly may by the Doctrine whereof we are treating, (if well cultivated) farther receive as great and notable Improvements, both _ex parte_ Objecti, and _ex parte_ Organi _vel_ Medii. 1. As to the _Object_ of Hearing, which is Sound, improvement has been and may be made, both as to the _Begetting_, and as to the _Conveying_ and _Propagating_ (which is a kind of _Conserving_) of Sounds. 1. As to the _Begetting_ of Sounds. The Art of imitating any Sound, whether by _Speaking_ (that is pronouncing) any kind of Language, (which really is an Art, and the _Art of Speaking_, perhaps one of the greatest) or by _Whistling_, or by _Singing_ (which are allow'd Arts) or by _Hollowing_ or _Luring_ (which the Huntsman or Faulkner would have to be an Art also) or by imitating with the Mouth (or otherwise) the Voice of any Animal, as of _Quails_, _Cats_, and the like; or by _representing_ any Sound begotten by the Collision of Solid Bodies, or after any other manner; these are all _Improvements_ of _Direct Hearing_, and may be improv'd. Moreover the Skill to make all sorts of _Musical Instruments_, both Ancient and Modern, whether _Wind_ Instruments or _String'd_, or of any other sort, whereof there are very many (as _Drums_, _Bells_, the _Systrum_ of the _Egyptians_, and the like) that beget (and not only propagate) Sounds; the Skill of making these, I say, is an Art, that has as much improv'd _Direct Hearing_, as an Harmonious Sound exceeds a single and rude one, that is, an immusical _Tone_; which Art is yet capable of farther improvement. And I do hope, that by the Rules, which may happily be laid down concerning the _Nature_, _Propagation_ and _Proportion_, or _Adapting_ of Sounds, a way may be found out, both to improve _Musical Instruments_ already in use, and to invent new ones, that shall be more sweet and luscious, than any yet known. Besides that, by the same means _Instruments_ may be made, that shall imitate any Sound in Nature, that is not Articulate, be it of Bird, Beast, or what thing else soever. 2. The _Conveying_ and _Propagating_ (which is a kind of _Conserving_) of Sounds, is much help'd by _duly placing the Sonorous Body_, and also by the _Medium_. For if the Medium be _Thin_ and _Quiescent_, and the Sounding Body _plac'd conveniently_, the Sound will be easily and regularly propagated, and mightily conserv'd. I say, 1. If the _Medium be Thin and Quiescent_, because it otherwise causes a _Refracted Sound_, of which afterwards. Hence in a _still Evening_, or the _dead of the Night_ (when the Wind ceases) a Sound is better sent out, and to a greater distance than otherwise, tho' much of this may be ascrib'd to its _Refraction_ also. 2. I say, that the _Sonorous Body must be plac'd conveniently_, near a _Smooth Wall_, near _Water_, or _a Plain_, whose Surface is even.