VOL. LXV.} ' PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SQl 



section of the 3 pieces composing the vah'e, at the distance at which they ought 

 to be placed, with respect to each other, in the tabular part of the vessel b. 

 This vessel having the glass valve in it, and filled with water, is to be put on 

 the glass a containing substances in the act of eftervescence. In that case, the 

 extricated air will ascend through the perforations in the superior and inferior 

 pieces, the middle one proving no obstacle to the air, having sufficient room to 

 yield to the current of air rushing upwards ; but when the air ceases to ascend, 

 and the pressure of the water above takes place, the middle piece will prevent 

 the water from descending, its plane snrfiice being then applied to the plane-' 

 surface of the piece below it. Thus this glass valve will answer in every case 

 where the ivory one can be employed ; and for a variety of purposes it will 

 undoubtedly prove preferable, particularly when corrosive substances are sub- 

 jected to experiment. 



V. Of a Musical Instrument, brought by Captain Fourneaux from the Isle of 

 Amsterdam in the South Seas, to London, in 177 'i, and given to the R. S. 

 By Joshua Steele, Esq. p. 67- 



This instrument consisted of a system of Q musical pipes, of various lengths, 

 and conected together in a parallel position. The manner of blowing them, in 

 making the experiments, was the same as people use to whistle in the pipe hole 

 of a drawer key. The upper series of tones, which are exact 5ths to the lower, 

 are easiest produced by an unexperienced person ; and the lowest series, which 

 we shall call fundamentals, with somewhat more address and a weaker blast. 

 Besides the abovementioned tones, if the velocity of the breath be increased a 

 little, the first 5 pipes will give octaves to the fundamentals, and if further 

 increased, sharp 3ds, or tierces, above these octaves. In the pipes 6, 7 , 8, g, 

 Mr. S. could neither make the octaves to the fundamentals, nor the sharp tierces; 

 but in their stead, the minor, or flat 3d, above the octave came, when the 

 breath was urged beyond the degree requisite to produce the 5th. This minor 3d, 

 is an accident out of the natural order of tones produced from simple tubes, 

 which he does not pretend to account for. Mr. S. then adds the notes of the 

 several tones which he produced from each pipe. 



FI. Remarks on a Larger System of Reed Pipes from the Isle of Amsterdam, 

 with some Observations on the Nose Flute of Otaheite. By Joshua Steele, Esq, 

 p. 72. 



The nose flute of Otaheite, gives only 4 sounds, with the first degree of breath, 

 which are, in an ascending series, by a semitone, a tone and a semitone. If urged 

 with a stronger breath, it will give octaves above these ; but it then becomes ill in 

 tune : and it seems, the natives of Otaheite use no more than those first 4 



