PREHISTORIC ART. G23 



on tlie large brass iiistrninents of to-day. Its one note is exceedingly 

 shrill and ])iercing: 



A descrii)tioi] of some of the musiral instruments belonging to now 

 existing tribes in Costa Kica may prove interesting, as showing, by coni- 

 l)arisou, that their remote ancestors were equally if not more advanced 

 in the art of music. 



Specimen, Cat. Xo. 15413 (U.S.N.M.) is a wooden drum used by the Bri 

 BriandTiribilndians, oneofanumber presented by Mr. William M. Cabb. 

 The shell is of dark-colored wood in the form of a tapering cylinder — or 

 more like one-half of an liourglass. The head is made of tlie skin of the 

 iguana lizard [Iguana tul)ervtdata^)^ cemented to the top with the fresh 

 blood and held in place by a cord until dried. It is held under the left 

 arm suspended by a coi'd over the shoulder, and is beaten by the fingers 

 of the right hand. Length 23 inches, diameter ()^, tapering to 4j|^ inches. 



Fig. 272 represents a whistle made from the leg bone of a small mam- 

 mal. It is from the Tiribi Indians of Costa Rica, and was presented by 

 Mr. Gabb. The upper eiul has been cut away and the cavity filled with 

 pitch or gum. Througli this an air passage connects with a vent hole 

 2A inches from the end. At the lower part is a lateral opening into the 

 natural cavity of the bone. Length 10 inches, diameter 1 inch. Its 

 one note is here given: sva 



Fig. 273 represents a primitive flageolet, made from a slender bone, 

 probably from the wing of the brown pelican [rrlecanus fmeuti). It is 

 also from the Tiribi Indians and was collected by ]Mr. Cabb. TliS natural 

 cavity at one end of the bone is partly filled with wax or gum, leaving 

 an air passage which connects Avith a vent hole placed I inch distant. 

 This forins a mouthpiece. The other end is open. On the upper surface 

 are five small finger holes, placed about -/o inch apart. 



Considerable attention has been given to the musical possibilities of 

 tliis instrument beciuise of its striking resemblance to the bone Avhistles 

 from ancient graves on the California Coast and tin- adjacent islands 

 (p. 571, fig. 211). What may be called its natural scale of six notes is 

 here shown, Avith the fingering for each tone- 



8va 



Fi?U 1 — ^—9-» — ' — I h — I 1-^ 



• o«o oooo 

 The upper note, G, is obtained with a slightly increased force in blow- 

 ing. By using greatly increased force and a different system of finger- 



