vibrating portion of metal is controlled by a rotating spiral. As may be seen, it is less bulky than the more ancient contrivance, but as regards pitch the two coincide, both corresponding with the Society of Arts standard pitch.

In Cooper's novel, The Last of the Mohicans, the ancient pitchpipe plays a conspicuous part. David Gamut, a half-witted musician, is introduced, treasuring beneath the flap of an enormous pocket an unknown engine, which turns out to be the beloved pitchpipe of the master of song. Throughout the tale, David repeatedly essays the virtues of his much-prized instrument. Performing the indispensable preliminaries, the singer produces from it a high, shrill sound, followed by its lower octave from his own voice. Then, without circumlocution or apology, he sings a psalm in such full and melodious tones that the surrounding savages are astounded by the upliftings of his mighty voice. David accompanies the delivery of the skilful rhymes by the regular rise and fall of his right hand, his fingers dwelling at the descent on the leaves of his psalm-book; and on the ascent there ensues such a flourish of the arms, that none but the initiated could ever hope to imitate. David believed that his immunity from death at the massacre of William Henry was due to the saving virtues of his pitchpipe and power of song. Both of these he exerted to the utmost in the hour of danger, pouring forth a strain so powerful as to be heard even amid the din of that bloody field. But Hawk-Eye the scout expressed the truth when he remarked, as he significantly tapped his forehead: "The Indians never harm a non-composer."

The history of the pitchpipe now under consideration is lost in the obscurity of the early part of last century; but without doubt this obsolete instrument, now superseded by wonderful inventions, has often sounded the prelude of the joyous voicing of congregations long since gone from this earth. That it was used in the Kirk of Cults through the early years of last century is indisputable, and that Sir David Wilkie often heard it in his youth, follows as a matter of course. Had Wilkie done for the old Precentor what he did for the "Blind Fiddler," or

"Pitlessie Fair," the story of this quaint old instrument might have ranked among the classics of our land.

The following note is added by Mr F. R. Coles :-"In October 1899, among other curious objects, a wooden pitchpipe was left with me by Mr J. Falconer, of Dundee. In general, it resembles the pipe above. described, being of mahogany, and measuring, when closed, 13 inches, with a horizontal breadth of 14 inches, and a vertical thickness of 1 inches. The bar carrying the scale was kept from being pulled entirely out of the tube by a small wooden peg plugged into the bottom of the pipe, and over which there ran a slot in the bar. Into the upper surface of the scale-bar, a thin piece of white wood (possibly willow?) had been inlaid, so as to throw up into greater relief the horizontal lines marking the scale; and these lines, as well as the names of the notes, were neatly cut and darkened with some blackish pigment. But the greatest difference between the Cults pitchpipe and this one from Dundee is to be observed in the scales. In the Cults pipe the scale begins on the note F, the first space on the treble clef, and ends on the upper G, ascending by semitones. In the Dundee pipe, the scale is from D below the clef to the octave above, also ascending by semitones, but not having the semitones correctly named. Another minute difference is that, in the Dundee pipe, instead of the sign in common usage to designate a sharp, the maker has cut a neat double-lined St Andrew's And either he, or the owner of the pitchpipe, has cut the initials WC within a deeply cut oblong cavity just below the air-hole.

cross.

"I learn from Mr R. Milne, formerly of the Third Battalion Royal Scots Regiment, now an attendant in the Museum, that pitchpipes of a similar kind were sent down from Pimlico to the regiment, in order to keep the pitch correctly for the bagpipes.

"The approximate date of any of these pitchpipes can best be computed by a careful comparison of the difference between their pitch and that of the modern standard 'concert-pitch.' In the absence, however, of a sufficiently varied number of pitchpipes, it will be safe to assert only that, the lower the pitch is, the older is the pipe likely to be."

MONDAY, 8th January 1906.

DAVID CHRISTISON, M.D., Vice-President, in the Chair.

A

Ballot having been taken, the following were duly elected Fellows:

Dr JOHN AITKEN, Ardenlea, Falkirk.

ANDREW EDWARD MURRAY, W.S., 7 Eton Terrace.

JAMES LYLE, Waverley, Queen's Crescent.

The Very Rev. JAMES C. RUSSELL, D.D., 9 Coates Gardens.

The following Donations to the Museum and Library were laid on the table, and thanks voted to the Donors ::

(1) By the DAUGHTERS of the late JOHN BUCHANAN, Esq., LL.D., Glasgow.

Collection of antiquities of various kinds, comprising

Two fragments of decorated "Samian" ware and a fragment of an Inscribed Stone, with II in one line and V in the line below, from Cadder.

Base of a small Vessel of soft red ware, from New Kilpatrick.

Fragment of decorated "Samian” ware Bowl, small shallow Vessel of "Samian" ware 2 inches in diameter and 14 inches in depth, plain; two small decorated fragments of the same ware; portion of large shallow Vessel of reddish ware 9 inches in diameter by 34 inches in depth; handle and portion of Vessel of smooth greyish ware; handle of Amphora, with potter's stamp VMEDIC; portion of small terra-cotta Bust of Female Figure, described in Stuart's Caledonia Romana, p. 348; six fragments of Tiles; small portion of the rim of a glass Vessel, all from Castlecary.

Fragment from arch of gateway at Garscadden, with inscription "OMNIA FIRMAT."

Stone Cup, slightly oval, measuring over all 51 x 3 inches, across the

hollow 23×2 inches, and inch in depth, with short rounded handle at one side, from a tumulus at Gallowflat, Rutherglen.

Four blue, decorated, glazed Tiles, 5 inches square, from Slatefield. Pocket Sun-dial, with Compass and hinged Gnomon, in brass case, with lid to screw on.

Embroidered Satchel, lettered in red silk thread I LIEVE AND DEY IN CONSTANCIE. ABSENCE NEVER PAIRTS LOYAL [HEARTS]-the last word being symbolised by the figure of two hearts entwined.

Flat piece of lead, 8 by 5 inches, pierced for seven nails, found underneath one of the dug-out canoes discovered in May 1852 at Clydehaugh, near Govan.

Piece of Mosaic from Hadrian's Villa; and fragment of the Arm of marble Statue, with the Hand of a child resting on it, from the Baths of Constantine, Rome.

Small slab of grey sandstone, with figure of Hindoo Goddess, from Sangor, Central India; and brass Figure of Krishna, from Benares. Bridle-bit of iron, from Cawnpore.

(2) By the MASTER OF THE ROLLS.

Acts of the Privy Council of England, New Series, vol. xxix., 159899, and vol. xxx., 1599-1600; Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III., vol. viii., 1346-49; Close Rolls, Henry III., 1231-34; Patent Rolls, Richard II., 1391-96; Patent Rolls, Henry IV., vol. ii., 1401-05; Year-Books, 18 and 19 of the Reign of Edward III.; State Papers, Ireland, 1660-62; Treasury Books, vol. ii., 1667-68; State Papers, America and West Indies, 1697-98.

There was exhibited :

(1) By Mr C. O. DUSSEL, 8 Danube Street, through Mr JAMES URQUHART, F.S.A. Scot.

An ornamental horse-crupper from Kirkwall, Orkney (fig. 1), consisting of thirty brass plaques affixed to two longitudinal straps of leather,