Page:The story of the flute (IA storyofflute1914fitz).djvu/294

 , etc. Their side-blown flute is termed Yoko-fuyé, or Shinobuye; it was originally made of a monkey's bone, but latterly of bamboo. The Japanese cover the holes with the second joint of the fingers, and they sometimes bore the finger-holes obliquely, probably to enable the player to modify the pitch of the note. Their idea of the balance of tone seems to be rather peculiar; thus in a picture in Siebold's Nippon (ii.) there are six instruments of percussion to a solitary flute!

The Japanese have a curious legend about the flute. A famous performer hid himself in a cave to avoid the consequences of a crime. Presently an immense serpent appeared, whereupon the criminal began to play upon his flute (his requiem, I suppose). The serpent thereupon stopped, appeared to listen with pleasure, and after a while withdrew, leaving the player unharmed. The Japs believe that the flute has power to charm serpents. Certainly in India this would seem to be the case. Chateaubriand (Autobiography, ii. 9) speaks of a Canadian rattlesnake that was fascinated by the notes of a flute, and Sir W. Jones says that the most venomous and malignant snakes leave their holes on hearing a flute, and appear to take delight in it. Some animals are peculiarly fond of the sound of a flute. The ancient Greeks used it to entice certain kinds of crabs out of their hiding-places. Horapollon says that the turtle-dove and the roe-buck allow themselves to be easily captured by its means. Dogs as a