Two little white bands are stretched across the inside of the voice-box.
When we speak, these bands vibrate just as do the strings of the piano.
These bands are called the _vocal cords_.
~16.

The Epiglottis.~--At the top of the voice-box is placed a curious trap-door which can be shut down so as to close the entrance to the air-passages of the lungs.

This little door has a name rather hard to remember.

It is called the _epiglottis_ (ep-i-glot'-tis).

The cover of the voice-box closes whenever we swallow anything.