PREHISTORIC ART. 



661 



Bird-shaped whistles. — Fig. 321 represents the only example in tlie 

 United States National Museum from Peru of a bird-sbaped wliistle 

 identical in all respects with tlie Mexican and Central American instru- 

 ments. It was presented by Col. J. S. Billings, surgeon, United States 

 Army, and forms part of a series of objects obtained by him from an 

 ancient grave in the mountains near Lima. It is of reddish clay, 

 slightly polished. The painted decoration is quite simple, the wings 

 only being outlined in black. There are two sound holes, one on each 

 side, near the middle of the body. Part of the tail, which contained 

 the mouthpiece, is wanting, but enough 

 remains to obtain the musical compass 

 of the instrument, which is here given: 



1=^ 



^ •• •o oo 

 Specimen, Cat. Xo. 107434 (U.S.N.M.) 

 is a bird-shaped whistle or toy of coarse 

 clay, painted black and polished. The 

 plumage markings are indicated by in- 

 cised lines alternately touched with white 

 and red pigments. It was obtained from 

 an ancient grave near Ancon, and i)re- 



sented by Mr. W. H. Jones. The body of the bird is hollow, and there 

 is but one hole, placed in the back. To produce a sound it must be 



Fig. 321. 



POTTERY WHISTLE, BIRD-SHAPED. 



Ancient grave near Lima, Peru. 



Cat. No. 140976, U.S.N. M. 'j natural size. 



FRAOMENT OP A BONE FLAGEOLET. 



Ancient grave near Lima, Peru. 



fat. No. 140SS:l, U.S.N. M. S.i natural size. 



blown in the same manner as a flute. It may not have been intended 

 for anything but a call or signal. The following note is emitted: 



Specimen, Cat. No. 14097C (U.S.N.M.) is a broken bird-shaped whistle 

 of the same material and details of construction as the one just 

 described. It was obtained by Colonel Billings from the grave near 

 Lima, and found with the bird-shaped instrument shown in fig. 321. 



Bone flute. — An interesting object of bone from the same grave is 

 represented in fig. 322. It is part of the ulna of the Brown Pelican 

 {Belecanus molince). The ends of the bone have been cut oti' and the 



