1883.] NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 93 



the3^ were made by artisans who thoroughly understood the prin- 

 ciples of the scales as known to us ; moreover, upon these whistles 

 a ninth, eleventh and twelfth can be obtained (the tenth or 

 G natural is missing), which gives, with this exception, an octave 

 and a fourth. 



Certain grotesque decorations upon these instruments maj'^ 

 have some siguiflcation ; the cue which produces E flat, or the 

 tonic of the scale, possessing no ornamentation, is an exception 

 to most all the others, which are enveloped b^^ frog-like appen- 

 dages or legs, with feet attached, Tlie bodies are tipped with an 

 ornament resembling the tails of young sparrows, and the under- 

 neath portion thereof is furnished with an appendage or button, 

 pierced by a hole, through which a cord was passed by which it 

 was probably attached to the body of the performer. (Plate III, 

 fig. 3.) 



The ingenious way in which the Aztec whistles are modeled is 

 well worthy of description, and must have occupied a great deal 

 of time to accomplish it. They have no doubt been made in four 

 parts, like the flageolets, and also possess a clay reed, which is 

 enveloped by the neck, to which is attached the body, furnished 

 with a vent-hole. This bod^' is a circular form, something like 

 the bulb of a retort (such as used in our laboratories), and was 

 no doubt fashioned upon a ball-shaped or circular form, and then cut 

 into two portions ; one of these was joined to the neck, and the 

 other piece fastened to it by careful modeling. An example of this 

 can be seen in the double whistle (Plate III, fig. 4), where these two 

 parts are shown somewhat separated ; no doubt the effect of the 

 action of the heat while in the kiln. The object of thus forming 

 the body in two portions can readily be seen by an examination 

 of these instruments, which are, with few exceptions, very care- 

 fully made, and tlie interior portion of the bod}' quite smooth and 

 regular within, as any imperfection would interfere with the regu- 

 larity and fulness of the sound. A smooth round form of some mate- 

 i;ial was chosen upon which to model or shape the body portion, 

 which it would be necessary to divide in two, so as to release it there- 

 from, thus explaining the division of the above-named parts. The 

 bodies of these whistles are each pierced by a stop-hole, w^ich, if 

 left unclosed when the instrument is blown, gives a clear piercing 

 sound ; by covering the same, a note one-fourth below that given 

 while open, is produced. This hole is generally placed to the 



