_Music._--It has been remarked that, in order to form a just estimate of the character of any particular people, it is necessary to investigate the pastimes and amusements most prevalent amongst them; war, and other contingent circumstances may place men at different times in different points of view, but when we follow them into the retirement of their homes, we are most likely to see them in their true state. In crannogs few musical instruments have come to light, owing probably to the perishable materials of which they were usually composed, yet enough remain to prove that, in time of peace, the sweet sound of the harp, and in war, the hoarse bray of the trumpet, resounded over the waters of the lakes. Portions of ancient harps have not unfrequently occurred in crannogs, but no fairly perfect example has as yet come to light. Some harp pins are formed of bronze, and several of bone were found at Ardakillen. In the Museum, R.I.A., there are upwards of twenty harp pins, the majority obtained from crannogs: they vary in length from 2⅛ to 4⅛ inches, are square in the head, and perforated in the smaller extremity, for holding the wire string. In the accompanying plate XXVIII., is figured (1) an Irish harp as restored: it stands at present 37 inches in height, all the metal portions were discovered in the crannog of Ballinderry, county Westmeath, and the proportions and form of the modern woodwork were regulated by the size and form of the original metal work; the thirty-five pins show the number of strings that were formerly attached. Although the style of decoration is of a very early character, yet as the letters I.H.S., surmounted by a cross, appear engraved on a brass plate in front of the instrument, the work cannot be older than the sixteenth century. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, convey a clear idea of the kind of ornamentation on the metal fittings, and No. 7 (from Drumdarragh crannog) represents a harp pin of the usual kind. [Illustration: Fig. 172.--Trumpets in the Museum, R.I.A.] [Illustration: Fig. 173.--Showing riveting of Trumpet. Full-size.] [Illustration: Plate XXIX. BRONZE TRUMPET, NOW IN THE MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY. FOUND IN THE CO. DOWN, A.D. 1809. Figures 2 and 3 side view of Trumpet, scale one and a-half inch to a foot; Fig. 4 shows the joining of the plate, and of the two lines of rivets of Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is similarly rivetted. Fig. 1 section of fig. 2 at larger end, full size, showing strap and rivets.]