HANDBOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 23 



monies of the Arapaho and other Plains tribes, and was also used in 

 signaling on the battlefield. 



A bone whistle from Costa Rica (15390, pi. 14e) is made of the 

 leg bone of a small mammal, and 4346 (pi. 14a) is made of the thigh 

 bone of a puma and classified as a direct flute. 



A remarkable group of wooden whistles without finger holes was 

 brought from the Skidegate and Massetts Indians of the Queen 

 Charlotte Islands by James G. Swan in 1883. These vary in size, 

 but have a general resemblance in shape, 89066, pi. 14^; 89071, pi. 

 14*; also the double whistle 89070, pi. Uk (Nos. 88873, 88875, 88893, 

 89060, 89062, 89091, 89226). A carved wooden whistle (89063, 

 pi. 14h) consists of two longitudinal sections and is in the form of 

 a head, the neck reduced to form the mouthpiece. The open mouth 

 forms the sound hole of the whistle. It has one finger hole in 

 the forehead. This whistle was used only at the beginning of the 

 distribution of property at a potlatch. Another carved instrument 

 of this type is 89158 (pi. 14c). The design represents Ooalalla, 

 the mountain demon, the head and chest of the demon being carved 

 on the front and his head and lower limbs on the back of the 

 whistle. 



The two small whistles illustrated (233184 and 233185, pi. 14 b 

 and d) are war whistles of the Dahomey, obtained by Dr. Walter 

 Hough at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. They are made of 

 hardwood, with a decoration of charred lines, chiefly in herringbone 

 pattern. 



With the whistles is placed a "bird call" from North Borneo 

 (247773). It is said that "blowing in the mouth tube produces a 

 low mournful sound not unlike the notes of a dove or pigeon. It is 

 used in catching the little green pigeon. The bird, thus decoyed, 

 is noosed by a native." With the whistle are several nooses of vege- 

 table fiber. 



FLUTES 



PRIMITIVE AND ORIENTAL 



The terms " whistle " and " flute " are used with considerable lati- 

 tude in describing primitive instruments. The following speci- 

 mens are an interesting group and are classified as "flutes." The 

 thigh bone of a puma is the material forming 4346. The natural 

 cavity of the bone forms the base, and the outside has been worked 

 down. It has three finger holes and is ornamented with a narrow 

 band of incised lines. This is an old specimen, and was brought 

 from British Guiana in 1866 by W. C. McClintock. No. 15825 is also 

 from South America, but probably not so old. It is decorated with 

 beads, feathers, and tassels. A bone flute from ancient Rome (95043) 

 was taken from an excavation. It consists of nine detached sections 



