920 TRICIHOLOGIA MAMMALIUM; 
Dr. Gross (in Elem. Path. and Anat., p. 327,) assures us that on the African Lion he 
has traced filaments of the fifth pair of nerves to the bulbs (follicles) of whiskers. 
Rudolphi had previously announced the same discovery in regard to the whiskers of the 
Seal; and, at a still earlier period, Gaultier had asserted that these tegumentary append- 
ages were supplied with vessels and nerves. Besides which, Malpighi found blood in 
the long hairs drawn from the lp of the horse, and Gurlt discovered the same fluid 
between the follicle and sheath of @ moustache, (but of what animal, or under what 
circumstances, he has not informed us.) 
And lastly, Eble considers the whiskers as the most perfect hair. 
Mr. Broughton made some experiments with a kitten, who, while blind-folded, could 
thread her way out of a labyrinth by means of her whiskers, but, when deprived of those 
tegumentary appendages, was unable to do so. 
Or rue Wuiskers or THE Raparr—LEzamination and Description of the Whiskers of 
the Rabbit—Specimen, common Rabbit, found wild near Philadelphia. 
Length, from 14 to 2 inches; diameter, j of an inch. Shape, shaft cylindrical, gradually 
tapering to a very fine point; direction, undulated. The shaft, (with its sheath,) descend- 
ing to the posterior extremity of the interior of the follicle, where it either ends abruptly, 
or swells shghtly, and again contracts, with a fibrous appearance. Fibres intermediate; 
a central canal; no button. The fibres, upon being ruptured, evince great elasticity, 
contracting and spreading outward. Transverse sections or disks, taken from the portion 
of the shaft covered with the sheath, show a central canal, in which are specks of a blood- 
red color; immediately anterior to the sheath is a canal, containing a substance which is 
either white or slightly colored red; anterior, still, to this point, is a void canal, and near 
the apex are white rings. ‘The white matter is cubic or cuneiform. 
Sheath, length, ,°, of an inch; when dry, closely adhering to the shaft, but separating 
from it easily after a slight maceration. Color, white, or slightly stained red. 
Follicle, length, 3° of an inch; diameter, ,4,th; color, red; shape, turbinate. 
Vessels are seen projecting from the exterior of the posterior extremity of the follicle, 
immediately beneath the perforation of the shaft. 
Ductility, Elasticity and Tenacity —One inch of a whisker, with 2270 grains, was 
deprived of its undulation only. With 7770 grains, it stretched goths of an inch, and 
broke. Fracture—the cortex was ruptured, and fibres projected from one portion. Three 
transverse dark marks, and one white, longitudinal furrow on the cortex. A portion of 
the follicle was bleached, when the vessels pending from its lower extremity were plainly 
seen. 
Or THe Wuiskers or THE In1sH Hare.—Examination and Description of the Whiskers 
of the Irish Hare—(Lepus Hibernicus.)—June 16, 1849.—Specimen in the Academy of 
Nat. Sci. of Phila. 
Length, 3 inches and ;‘;ths; greatest diameter, ;}, of an inch; gradual tapering to a 
poit. 
