230 



ANNUAL KEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1908. 



Figure 20 shows the waves of a note of an 

 orchestra, produced in just under 0.5 of a second ; 

 a vibration with a wave length of about 3 milli- 

 meters is noticed occurring again and again. 

 These are seen to be grouped in threes, indicating 

 a tone w^ith a period of 9 millimeters. The pres- 

 ence of loud bass notes is indicated by the greater 

 amplitude of certain waves. There is one which 

 reinforces every sixth vibration; a very compli- 

 cated curve is the result. It is marvelous that 

 the ear can sift these vibrations so as to dis- 

 tinguish the notes of the various instruments 

 from one another. 



Figure 21 shows the vibrations of a gong. The 

 gong is struck, but the special vibrations do not 

 commence immediately. The curve of the low 

 fundamental has other high vibrations traced in 

 it. AA^ien the chief tones of the gong interfere 

 they produce beats, as shown in the weak 

 portions. 



Figure 22 shows the curve of a whistled note 

 accompanied by piano. The waves of the piano 

 note alone can be distinguished from those where 

 the liigh whistle vibrations are imposed. 



Figure 23 shows the curve of a plucked 

 string. 



Figure 24 shows a small portion of a vocal 

 record of an Italian voice on a high note. The 

 rise and fall of the amplitude is noticed, pro- 

 ducing a tremolo; the pitch, however, does not 

 rise and fall as it would in a proper trill, which 

 is supposed to be an alternating between two 

 notes. The distinction, hoAvever, between the 

 tremolo and trill could not be distinguished by 

 the ear. 



Finally, figure 25 shows part of a tracing from 

 the legend of " Cock robin's death and burial." It 

 starts with the fly's response, " With my little 

 eye, I saw him die." Attention may be drawn 

 to the five occurrences of the vowel sound " ai," 

 in " my," " eye," " I," " die," " I." The curves 

 of the two components, the " ah " and the " e " 

 are easily recognized each time they occur. It 

 will be noticed further that the consonants are 

 practicall}^ silent and leave an imperceptible 

 record. 



