236 



MUSICAL INSTKUMEKTS MADE OF BONES. 



If' 



Schumacher at Santa Cruz Island, and is now in the collection of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution (No 18323). 



In most respects similar to the above, and yet differing in the one 

 Fig. 118. important feature of being open at each end, is a longer and 

 more slender bone whistle, which, although apparently perfect, 

 will not give forth any sounds, however carefully, gently, or 

 violently it may be blown. This whistle is represented in Fig. 

 117. As is shown by the dark shadings in the figure, it has 

 been coated with a black pigment, and has a glossy surface. 

 It is made of a long bone of some animal, and is simply an 

 irregularly oval tube, open at each end. At about 2 inches from 

 one end there is a square hole cut in the bone, and directly 

 beneath this lateral opening there is a transverse ridge of asphal- 

 tum. It measures 6j inches in total length, and is also from 

 Santa Cruz Island (S. I. 18162). 



Fig. 118 represents a "war- whistle of band of Big Dogs, a 

 society among the Sioux. It is used in making the charge " 

 (P. M. 7883). As will be seen on comparing the two illus- 

 trations, there is an identity of pattern between this Sioux 

 whistle and the preceding. It is simply the wing-bone of a 

 bird, probably of the sand-hill crane, and, like the preceding, 

 has a lateral opening, opposite which is a rounded ridge of 

 gum occupying about one-half the hollow interior of the im- 

 plement. When blown with a quick, strong blast, there results 

 a very keen, piercing, fife-like note of great power. Persons 

 accustomed to the use of various wind instruments, in experi- 

 menting with this whistle, have been able to produce a louder 

 and more piercing note than upon an ordinary fife. If the 

 similar "war- whistles" found on the Pacific coast produced as 

 shrill notes as the Sioux whistle here introduced for compari- 

 son, the opinion of Bartram concerning those of the Atlantic 

 Bone whistle coas t Indians is applicable to them; the sounds produced being- 



of Sioux In- ' ' v ° 



dians.f. "a hideous, melancholy discord," and the whistles "howling in- 

 struments." 



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