06 



between the one and the other — both have a scaly covering, a fibrous cor- 

 tical layer, and a central cellular tissue. The relation between the outer 

 and inner structure is tolerably balanced. But, when we turn our atten- 

 tion to the direction of woolly hairs, we find a marked distinction ; hairs 

 are always more or less straight — wool always more or less curly. Each 

 individual hooks into two or three of its neighbours, and these again hook 

 into others. They are kept still more from being separated by the ser- 

 rations of their scales. It is this which enables us to fabricate them 

 into light cords, as in worsted, or into a more solid form, as in felt. The 

 fur of animals is often of two kinds, i. e. hair and wool, as in the beaver. 

 How much the influence of curliness has to do with the process of felting, 

 may be noticed in the hind legs of our fancy dogs. The spaniel and 

 many allied species, when they attain a mature age, have a number of 

 long feathery hairs proceeding from different parts of their bodies ; these 

 are more or less curly, and require incessant combing, to keep them from 

 entanglement ; if neglected, they very soon become matted inextricably 

 together, and closely resemble a coarse piece of felt. This does not occur 

 in the hairs of the other part of the body, which are straight, no matter 

 what length they attain. Many a lady, who has no trouble with combing 

 her back hair out, would have great difficulty in combing a sheep's fleece 

 straight, and the maid, who combs with ease the smooth coat of a spaniel, 

 will shrink from the task of cleaning in Uke manner the cru-ly hair of a 

 poodle or a Skye terrier. 



Hair has been analysed by Sherer and Van Laer, an account of which 

 is given in Simon's Chemistry,* It has been found to contain margarin 

 and margaric acid, olein, a brown matter soluble in water, chloride of 

 Bodium and potassium, and lactate of ammonia. 



Some hairs contain much more olein than others, but whether this 

 depends upon the hair itself, its bulb, or the glands near its root, or 

 upon all combined, it is difficult to say. 



Its ultimate analysis gives us carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and 

 sulphur, with a varying proportion of ash. This ash contains a varying 

 quantity of peroxide of iron, from 163 parts in 1000. The large amount 

 of sulphur in hair, averaging 5 per cent., is the cause of its colour being 

 affected by various metallic salts. As there is no constant difference in 

 the results obtained by the analysis of hair of various tints, it is to be 

 presumed that the colour is dependent on peculiar arrangements of the 

 ultimate particles. 



It might be enquired, whether there are distinctive characters sufficient, 



• Ray Society edition, vol. i, p. 41^. 



