26 BULLETIN 136, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



On this specimen the "bandage" is gone, showing the interior 

 structure. The writer has seen flutes of this construction played 

 without the "bandage," the finger of the player being placed over 

 the upper part of the opening. Stiff paper is often tied around the 

 flute to direct the air. Specimens similar to the above are 11314. 

 obtained in 1871 from the Apache, and 107535 from the Mohave. 

 A flute of similar construction is from Burma and has a piece of 

 palm leaf tied over the upper part of the sound hole (95495, pi. 15/). 



In the typical flute of the American Indians the " bandage " is 

 replaced by a small piece of zinc or other material held in place by a 

 block of wood. A Chippewa flute had a piece of birch bark with a 

 rectangular opening over the sound hole and a bit of silk across the 

 opening, which furnished a sharp, thin lip on which the current of 

 air impinged. Usually the block of wood was secured by a thong 

 or cord passing around the flute, permitting an adjustment by the 

 player ; occasionally, however, the block was glued to the flute. The 

 collection contains many examples of this flute, commonly known 

 as the " courting flute " of the Indians. In some instances the block 

 is small and simple, as in 72884 (pi. 15c?), while in others it is larger 

 and highly ornamented. A large, wooden flute (94005) has a block 

 of this sort carved in the shape of a horse's body and neck and 

 apparently glued to the flute. The lip of the sound hole is a piece of 

 lead bent around the tube, which characterizes this type of Indian 

 flute. An interesting flute (76825) was captured from the Sioux 

 at the battle of White Stone Hill in 1863. 



Flutes made of metal are not unknown among the American In- 

 dians. No. 96617, obtained from the Apache, is made from the 

 outer half of a gun barrel and 218217, from the Pueblo, is made from 

 a section of gas pipe. 



Special attention is directed to the two Moorish flutes in a parch- 

 ment case (95766-7, pi. 15^). 



A transverse flute of cane was collected among the Yuma of 

 Arizona and its sound recorded phonographically by the writer. 

 This instrument consists of an open tube of cane with three finger 

 holes. It was held horizontally and blown at the end (325187, pi. 

 15b). Other transverse bamboo flutes have a mouth hole in the 

 side. Such a specimen is 92707 from India. This is the Murali and 

 is said to have been invented by the god Krishna. No. 95210, from 

 Korea, is interesting in that it has a large opening midway between 

 the mouth hole and the first finger hole covered with film or bladder. 

 A metallic cover is bound over this opening with leather thongs. 

 This can be removed, allowing the film to give a reedy quality to the 

 tone of the instrument. Another transverse bamboo flute (4344) 

 is from British Guiana and was collected by W. C. McClintock in 

 1866. 



