750 2 So— 
PREFACE. 
Narurat History includes al/ the works of the Mighty Creator; her votaries, with 
the aid of the telescope, measure the parallax of the most distant stars, and, with the 
microscope, scrutinize the minutest portion of the smallest infusoria, plant, or crystal. 
Nothing for them is too large, nothing too small for examination, which God has placed 
within their reach. If the Deity has not deemed it beneath His dignity to create an 
object, surely it would be presumptive in man to consider it too insignificant for hes 
study. Then let no one marvel that we have devoted so much time to ascertain the 
organization, properties and uses of hair and wool. To the unreflecting, this department 
of knowledge may, at first view, appear to be trifling; but, with each successive advance, 
it will acquire more importance. 
The Science which relates to Pile may be called 'TRicHoLoey, (from Trix, a hair ;) 
its descriptive part is Tricnocrapuy. It is a branch of Zodlogy, or rather of Mammo- 
logy; and, so far, it is connected with Physiology, Anatomy and Comparative Anatomy. 
Some of its discoveries shed new light upon the ethnological problem of the unity of the 
human species, and others will be found to be intimately connected with those branches 
of agricultural industry, which relate to the raising of Sheep and producing of wool, and 
the raising of Swine for the bristles. It embraces a large field of inquiry, many parts of 
which are yet only partially explored. 
In our progress we have endured considerable mental labor and encountered some 
unexpected difficulties; but, cheered by the countenance and aided by a few scientific 
friends, we have pursued a steady course, and have, at length, brought our examinations 
to a tolerably successful termination. It will be recollected that we were obliged, in the 
first instance, to collect the materials ; and, after years of untiring exertions, we have at 
length the largest and the most valuable known cabinet of pile. In the meantime we 
attended lectures on Physiology and Anatomy. We have made use of none but superior 
instruments, and some of these are entirely new—either in themselves or their application 
to this study. We have availed ourselves of the researches of those who have gone over 
the ground before us, at all times acknowledging their truthfulness and pointing out their 
errors. We have carefully preserved the specimens from which our drawings are made, 
for future re-examination, if desirable. Upon a theme so extensive, and comparatively so 
novel, we do not expect to have escaped error; but we trust that when pointed out, we 
shall ever be found ready to acknowledge and correct them. 
P. A. BROWNE, 
Philadelphia 
Cw 
