Chapter XIII

by Dr. Möller).

27. _Parts of a model five-stringed musical instrument._ Similar to Nos. 28, 63 A, and 92 (see Pl. LXXI, and for description No. 63 A).

28. _A pottery pan containing various objects._ (1) A model four-stringed musical instrument (Pl. LXXI. 28) made of sycomore wood, ebony, and ivory. (For further description see No. 63 A.) (2) A bird-trap (Pl. LXIV. 28) made of wood and of the following construction and mechanism:--Two flat boards cut semicircular and joined in the middle by a central broad bar of wood which is slightly longer than the diameter of the circle formed by the two semicircular boards; these three pieces of wood formed the floor of the trap. Upon the central bar, it will be noticed that there are two pairs of pillars, grooved on top, and a hole in the bar on the right and left side of each pair of pillars (see Pl. LXIV). Strung over each pair of pillars were (now missing) several strands of catgut (?), with their ends passed through the holes on either side, and held at the back by short pieces of stick. By revolving these pieces of stick at the back the strands of catgut were twisted and brought to any degree of tension required, and thus by this method formed two spring-hinges. Fixed in these spring-hinges was a flexible piece of stick bent to form an arched bow (not shown in Pl. LXIV), either end of the bow being passed through the strands of twisted gut at such an angle as to cause the bow to be pressed on to one half of the circular bottom of the trap (the position when closed). Attached to the bow and on the opposite half of the bottom of the trap was a net (see holes for this purpose and remains of net, Pl. LXIV. 28), sufficiently large to allow the capture of a bird. To open the trap, the bow would be pulled over to the side that the net is attached to. On this side, at the edge, there is a notch (see Pl. LXIV. 28) for a pillar-catch which held the bow open. This catch was worked by a string through a hole beside it (see Pl. LXIV. 28), which was passed underneath and brought up through a hole in the centre of the bottom of the trap (see Pl. LXIV. 28), where the string was attached to a sensitive adjustment so placed that the movements of a bird touching it would detach it and cause the trap to close (i. e. the bow to spring into its original position on the opposite side). The wooden bow belonging to the trap was found sometime afterwards among a lot of stray wood that came from the tomb, and it was exactly as described above. (3) A mechanical toy bird made of wood (Pl. LXIV, right and left of trap). (4) Pottery bowl of red pottery full of a brown powdery substance. (5) A painted clay head of a bull. (6) A small round basket containing a blue faience kohl-pot. (7) A writing tablet like No. 26 (see