A species of guitar is the _quinterna_, or _chiterna_, somewhat resembling a violin in shape (Fig. 45). It was used about two centuries ago, especially in Italy, by the lower orders of musicians and comedians for accompanying their vocal performances. It was played with the fingers instead of a plectrum. The _cithern_, _cittern_, or _cither_ (Fig. 46), which during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was a popular instrument in England, where it was often played in the barbers’ shops, had four pairs of wire strings. Its top generally terminated in a grotesquely-carved human head. The cithers made in England during the eighteenth century have generally at the top some inlaid ornamentation in ivory, mother-of-pearl, or fancy wood. Although not well suited for the performance of harmonious combinations, since its wire strings are twanged with a quill, and therefore only such chords can be properly produced as are on strings following each other in uninterrupted succession, the cither, nevertheless, possesses considerable charms. There are several conjectures as to the derivation of the German name _zither_ or _zitter_. Some suppose it to be from “_zittern_,” on account of the peculiarly trembling sound of the instrument. During the first centuries of the Christian era the word _cythera_ (_cithara_) implied almost any stringed instrument, especially if the strings were twanged with a plectrum, or with the fingers. It is also noteworthy, though perhaps only as a singular coincidence, that the Persians and Hindus have a three-stringed species of _zither_, which they call _sitar_, from the Persian word _si_, “three,” and _tar_, “a string.” The Hindu _sitar_ is, however, now usually mounted with five strings. The _harp-guitar_ and _harp-theorbo_ (Fig. 47) were manufactured in England with the intention of improving the sound of the guitar and theorbo by adopting for them the body of the harp. There was also another invention of this kind, called the _harp-lute_. The _harp-ventura_ (Fig. 48) was invented at the beginning of the last century by Signor Angelo Benedetto Ventura, professor of music, and teacher of the guitar and harp-lute to the Princess Charlotte of Wales. The example given has a back of satin wood, and sides of turtle shell; the belly and pillar are painted and gilt. It has nineteen catgut strings, six of which are covered with wire. The _banduria_ (Fig. 49) a lyre-shaped guitar, was often strung with wire instead of catgut, and played with a plectrum generally made of tortoise-shell. The specimen illustrated is made of various woods, has three sound-holes, a machine head, and twelve catgut strings tuned in pairs. The Spanish peasants call their rustic guitar _vihuela_; and it appears probable that the “gittrons that are called Spanish vialls,” mentioned in the list of musical instruments of Henry VIII. (Harl. MSS. 1419, p. 202) were small guitars of this description.