UTILITY OF THE OX TRIBE TO MANKIND. 161 



covering the tail into caps, which are so contrived that 

 the long hair falling over their faces, defends them from 

 the bites of the mosquitoes. 



HORNS. The horns of cattle consist of an outside 

 horny case, and an inside conical-shaped substance, some- 

 what between hardened hair and bone. The horny outside 

 furnishes the material for the manufacture of a variety of 

 useful articles. The first process consists in cutting the 

 horn transversely into three portions. 



1 . The lowest of these, next the root of the horn, after 

 undergoing several operations by which it is rendered flat, 

 is made into combs. 



2. The middle of the horn, after being flattened by heat, 

 and its transparency improved by oil, is split into thin 

 layers, and forms a substitute for glass in lanterns of the 

 commonest kind. [The merit of the invention of these 

 horn plates, and of their application to lanterns, is ascribed 

 to King Alfred, who is said to have first used lanterns of 

 this description to preserve his candle time-measurers from 

 the wind.] 



3. The tips of the horns are generally used to make 

 knife-handles ; the largest and best are used for crutch- 

 stick heads, umbrella handles, and ink-horns, and the 

 smallest and commonest serve for the tops and bottoms of 

 ink-horns. 



Spoons, small boxes, powder flasks, spectacle frames, and 

 drinking horns are likewise made of the outer horny case. 



The interior or core of the horn is boiled down in 

 water, when a large quantity of fat rises to the surface; this is 

 sold to the makers of yellow soap. The liquid itself is 

 used as a kind of glue, and is purchased by the cloth- 

 dressers for stiffening. The bony substance which remains 



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