MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 



173 



same, as in figure 280. In this case, the diameters of 

 the drumheads are equal and somewhat larger than 

 the central diameter. The end serving as a base is 

 not decorated. The whole serves as a pedestal for a 

 biped that is neither man nor ape nor bird, but in 

 some respects resembling all three. An elaborate head- 

 dress, painted and in relief, extends the length of the 

 life form, downward and backward till it comes in 

 contact with the margin of the drumhead forming the 

 mouthpiece of the whistle. The perforation in the 

 breast has no connection with the whistling apparatus. 

 This instrument is exactly an octave lower in tone 

 than the preceding. 



The same general scheme, but with additional 

 life forms, is repeated in figure 281. The undecorated 

 end on which the drum rests is perfectly flat and is 

 perforated in the center by one of the two finger- 

 holes. The panels on the sides are covered with 

 familiar alligator motives, as in the preceding. The 

 principal figure in the group on top is half man, half 

 beast. Its arms extend back till the hands touch the 

 arched body of a two-headed serpent. Attached to this 

 body near the center of the arch are two small heads, 

 bird or reptile. There is also a prop extending from 

 the mouthpiece to the center of the arch against which 

 the standing figure leans. 



In by far the greater number of cases the air-chamber 

 of these wind-instruments is but the hollow body of 

 some life form, the bird being the favorite. Among 

 birds, a number of varieties are met with, the one 

 most frequently represented being the parrot. Pinart 

 found that the totemic figure the most often used 

 among the Guaymis is that of a small species of 

 parrot, in honor of which he heard many chants. 

 Lionel Wafer, 1 one of the early writers, in discussing 

 animal life on the Isthmus says : " They have Parrots 

 good store, some Blue, and some Green, for Shape 

 and Size like the generality of the Parrots we have 

 from Jamaica. There is here great variety of them, 

 and they are very good Meat." 



Attention is again called to the series of bird forms 

 already noted in the discussion of the alligator group 

 of ware. This avian character originated in a dis- 

 tinctly globular vase (see fig. 246) having aperture 



Fig. 279. 



V\o 



280. 



Fig. 279. — Whistle combining drum 

 and bird form. Alligator ware, 'I 1 



Fig. 2S0. — Drum whistle surmounted 

 by grotesque biped life form. Alli- 

 gator ware. 3 /* 



1 A new voyage and description of the Isthmus of America. 2 J ed., 91, London, 1704. 



