OCARINA  , a

wind instrument invented in Italy, which must be classed with musical toys or freaks, although concerted music has been written for it . The ocarina consists of an earthen-ware vessel in the shape of an egg with a pointed base and a tube like a spout in the side, which contains the mouthpiece . There are usually 10 holes in the front surface of the instrument, nine for fingers and thumb and a vent hole; the newer models have 8 holes and two keys . By half covering the holes the semi-tones are obtained . O'CAROLAN (or CAROLAN), TURLOGH (1670-1738), Irish bard, son of John O'Carolan, a farmer, was born at Newtown, near Nobber, in the county of Meath . The family is said to have belonged to the sept of MacBradaigh, and the bard's great-grandfather was a chieftain . The O'Carolans forfeited their estates during the civil wars, and Turlogh's father settled at Alderford, Co . Roscommon, on the invitation of the family of M'Dermott Roe . In his eighteenth year he became blind from smallpox . He received special instruction in music, and used to wander with his harp round the houses of the surrounding gentry, mainly in Connaught . The famous song Receipt for Drinking may be responsible for the allegation that he was addicted to intemperate drinking, but Charles O'Conor (1710-1791), the antiquary, who had personal knowledge of him, gives him a good character in private life . The number of Carolan's musical pieces, to nearly all of which he composed verses, is said to exceed two hundred .

He died on the 25th

March 1738, and was buried at Kilronan . His poetical Remains in the original Irish, with English metrical translations by Thomas Furlong, were printed in Hardiman's Irish Minstrelsy (1831) . Many of his songs were preserved among the Irish MSS. in the British Museum .