94 > PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1883. 



right side of a line drawn around the body from the centre of the 

 vent. In playing the scale of E flat, all of the holes in these pipes 

 are left open with the exception of that of pitch-pipe No. 2, which 

 is closed, so as to produce F natural. 



To recapitulate, it would appear : I. That upon the four-holed 

 clay flageolets the chromatic and diatonic scales can be produced 

 with a full octave. II. That the clay whistles or pitch-pipes, 

 which may be manipulated in quartette, will produce an octave 

 and a fourth. III. From the facts above shown, the Aztecs must 

 have possessed a knowledge of the scales as known to us, which 

 has been fully tested by comparison with the flute and organ. 



These superior attainments in the science of music suggest that 

 musicians of our day have arrived at a somewhat hasty decision 

 in regard to the music of these ancient people having been con- 

 fined within the narrow limits of a so-called pentatonic scale, as 

 it is highly probable that they may have had melodies containing all 

 the tones of the chromatic scale. Their ingenuity and skill in the 

 production of these instruments may well claim the admiration of 

 modern musicians and artisans. It is earnestly hoped that a much- 

 neglected branch of American ethnology — the stud}' of native 

 American music — will hereafter receive the proper investigation 

 due so important a subject. No doubt the researches now in 

 progress, under the auspices of the Bureau of Ethnology at 

 Washington, will develop many interesting facts in this con- 

 nection. 



