[PLATE CXXX., Fig.

2.] [Illustration: PLATE 130] A few instruments carried by musicians are of an anomalous appearance, and do not admit of identification with any known species.

One, which is borne by a musician in a processional scene belonging to the time of Sennacherib, resembles in shape a bag turned upside-down.

By the manner in which it is held, we may conjecture that it was a sort of rattle--a hollow square box of wood or metal, containing stones or other hard substances which produced a jingling noise when shaken.

But the purpose of the semicircular bow which hangs from the box is difficult to explain, unless we suppose that it was merely a handle by which to carry the instrument when not in use.