WHISTLES ANCIENT AND MODERN. 



171 



horns and trumpets of crystal, flutes of porcelain, fiddles of fai- 

 ence, Alpine liorns, a bassoon of such extraordinary adjustment 

 that it is a day's work to dismount it ; and many other most 

 curious contrivances for producing melodies and accompani- 

 ments. 



One of the most simple whistles, most closely approaching 

 the theoretical form, is the American, or secret whistle (Fig. 2), 

 which is composed of a strip of metal bent over, one end of 

 which. A, is cut beveled, and is placed opposite the opening of 

 the hollow box o o'. Apply the 

 mouth and blow at — no sound 

 is produced ; and in this lies the 

 secret of the instrument. But on 

 closing the open ring T with the 

 thumb and forefinger, a vigorous 

 whistling sound is obtained, the 

 intensity of which may be modi- 

 fied by raising or lowering the 

 bevel. A, so as to bring it nearer 

 to or farther away from the box 

 00'. 



A pen and pencil-case whistle, 

 with which dealers in holiday 

 toys have had considerable suc- 

 cess, deserves to be mentioned 



here. It is an ordinary whistle at the end of a tube, in which a 

 solid cylinder is moved so as to modify at the will of the per- 

 former the length of the column of vibrating air. Persons skilled 

 in using it are able to play a considerable variety of simple tunes 

 upon it. Among the whistles that give out several notes, we 



C .?t\it\\uT . 



Fig. 2.— Secret Whistle. Outer View and 



Section. 



Fig. 3.— Commandant's Whistle. 



also cite the commandant's whistle (Fig. 3), which, besides its 

 mouth, has two openings that are controlled by the fore and 

 middle fingers. With both holes closed, it gives the note sol ; 

 with hole No. 1 open, do ; and with both holes open, mi. 



