30 BULLETIN 136, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



slightly tapering from the mouth hole toward the ends which are 

 tipped with German silver ferrules. The bore is cylindrical, and it 

 has six finger holes in line with the mouth hole and arranged in two 

 groups of three. 



A " flageolet fife " (55749) is made of brass tubing with a plug of 

 cast lead or pewter. 



REED INSTRUMENTS 



A large group or family of instruments have, as an important part 

 of their mechanism, a small, thin strip of metal, cane, or wood, 

 which imparts a peculiar quality to the tone. This is called a " reed " 

 and is set in vibration either by the player's breath, as in the clarinet, 

 or by mechanical means, as in the reed organ. The reed is set in the 

 mouth piece of the smaller instruments. 



The plant used for reeds, according to Grove's Dictionary, is a tall 

 grass or reed, the Arundo Donax or Sativa, growing in the south of 

 Europe. The chief supply is now obtained from Frejus, on the 

 Mediterranean coast. Other materials have been tried but not found 

 satisfactory in orchestra instruments. Organ reeds were formerly 

 made of hardwood, more recently of brass, German silver, and steel. 



The subject of reed instruments is introduced as follows by Mr. 

 Hawley : 



Reeds may be divided into two kinds, single and double. Tbere are three 

 kinds of single reeds: (1) The beating reed, as in the clarinet; (2) the free 

 reed, as in the harmonica, accordian, and reed organ; and (3) the ribbon reed, 

 as when a blade of grass is held between the thumbs. The jew's-harp is also 

 a free reed, but is too stiff to be set in vibration by the current of air which 

 passes through the instrument ; it is therefore vibrated by the player's hand. 

 There are two kinds of double reeds, the oboe and the bassoon (which differs 

 slightly from it) and the double inverted reed which at present has been found 

 only in Morocco and in the northwest coast of America. 



Some of this class of instruments have a reservoir of air to produce 

 a continuous sound, as the bagpipe. 



SINGLE REEDS 



1. The simplest example of a single beating reed is the reed horn, 

 which has no finger holes. A " reed horn " of the Germans is 

 214483, made of brass in the form of a cow's horn flattened at the 

 larger end. A brass single beating reed projects from the small end, 

 and is inclosed in a " Pirouette " or cap of German silver screwed 

 on the end of the horn. This kind of horn was used by conductors 

 of railway trains in Germany. 



An example of a single beating reed with finger holes is the shep- 

 herd's pipe (95045). The body is turned from one piece of wood. 

 It has a conical bore with 8 finger holes, 1 thumb hole, and 3 for 



