PREHISTORIC ART. 



599 



Mexico, and the volume of tone is in proportion to the size of the instru- 

 ment. The note produced is here given : 



In fig. 247 is shown a small whistle of unpainted black ware. It 

 represents a grotesque human head. The neck serves as a mouthpiece 

 and there is one sound hole placed under the chin. With the hole 

 open no distinct tone can be made ; 

 when closed the following note is 

 emitted : K»- 



The American Museum of IsTatu- 

 ral History in New York City has 

 two whistles similar to the forego- 

 ing, but representing a death's head 

 or ma.sk. 



Fig. 248 shows another whistle 

 caricaturing the human face. (Re- 

 ceived from Hugo Finck.) It is 

 modeled in coarse reddish clay and 

 not painted. The air passage is 

 through the neck and the venthole 

 is represented in the widely open 

 mouth. The interior of the head, 

 which forms the air chamber, is so 

 filled with earth and the specimen 

 otherwise so mutilated that no 

 sound can be obtained. This figure 

 is only inserted in order to show 

 the variety of forms which occur 

 in these instruments. 



One example of a bird-shaped 

 whistle (Oat. No. 196077, U.S.N.M., 

 Phillips collection) is suggestive of 

 the instruments so often found in 



Central and South America. It is roughly executed in dark gray-colored 

 clay, unpainted. The legs and part of the head are broken and missing. 

 There are four finger holes, two on each side of the body. These, being of 

 unequal sizes, increase the number of sounds i)0ssible, but these differ- 

 ences (in size) were probably not intentional, as all the details of model- 

 ing show haste or unskilful work. The tail serves as a mouthpiece, and 

 the notes obtained by a simple method of fingering are shown in the 

 following scale: ^ «._lU_^!i. 



Fig. 245. 



POTTEUY WHISTLE. 

 Tezcuco, Mexico. 



. Ifln69, U.S.N.M. ?„ natural ; 



m^. 



it 



m 



