ore variety; indeed, this instrument is capable,
in good hands, of great sweetness and delicacy of tone. It is blown by
bellows instead of the mouth, which probably prevents jerkiness and
makes the sound steadier.

A peculiar bagpipe is used in Sardinia, called the 'Lanedda,' in which
the unfortunate player is obliged to make use of three mouthpieces at
the same time. It is not surprising to hear that the performance is
exhausting, and that the players often die early deaths.

The 'Musette' was a softer form of bagpipes, and many of the great
musicians have included in their 'Suites,' or collections of dances,
special music for the instrument bearing this name. Such music had a
lulling, dreamy tone, and greatly depended for effect on a clever use of
the drone-pipes. Musettes were often of most elaborate construction, the
covers of the windbags being of plush or velvet, richly embroidered in
needlework, whilst the pipes and mouthpieces are inlaid with ivory,
ebony, and silver.

HELENA HEATH.

OLD OXFORD CASTLE.

Old books describe clearly where Oxford Castle stood. It was close to
St. George's Church, and not far from a water-mill; the stream that
turned this mill flowed past the town, supplying water to the big moat
which surrounded the castle, and which was crossed by a strong bridge.
The most ancient form of the crest or coat-of-arms of Oxford shows a
castle, a winding stream, and a bridge. There is a curious drawing of
the castle, made by Ralph Agas, in 1538, during the reign of Henry
VIII., though some people think he has put the round tower, or keep, in
the wrong place. This keep is the last part of Oxford Castle to be left
standing; the rest has gone.

It is difficult to find out when Oxford Castle was first built. It is
certain that it dates from the time of the Saxons. There is a tradition
that King Offa built the original castle, which would mean some date in
the eighth century, and the great King Alfred was probably often at
Oxford, staying at the castle. In the collections of Saxon coins, round
in Oxford, there are some coins of his time. Then the son of Canute was
crowned at Oxford, and lived for a while at the castle, but he reigned
only four years. About 1791, the remains of old walls were found,
immensely thick, with some remarkable wells. These walls were thought to
be Saxon. Thus we pass on till the Normans conquered England, when there
is proof that this castle was rebuilt by one Robert