Richard Pennycuick asks:

>Why is the French horn fingered with the left hand?

Because of the practice of "stopping" (in the original hand horn to alter
its pitch, and in the newer valve horn to alter its color).  According to
Karl Geiringer in his indispensable "Musical Instruments," "Stopping is
effected either with the right hand, or with the help of a damper or mute,
a wooden or metal cone inserted in the bell.  In all cases, the valves are
so placed that they can be operated with the left hand, in order to leave
the right hand free for stopping."

John Dalmas
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 [OK, this then begs the question:  Why is the French horn stopped with
 the right hand (and if you say it's because it's fingered with the left,
 well...  -Dave]