344 



NATURE S TEACHINGS. 



Putting aside the ordinary Combs of our European civilisa- 

 tion, such as are given in the illustration, there are many 

 others which are modified according to the use which they have 

 to fulfil. 



The simplest is the Comb of the celebrated Amazon regi- 

 ment of Dahomey. This is nothing but a slight skewer of 

 ivory, some ten inches in length, and amply sufficient for 

 arranging the short woolly lumps which do duty for hair on 

 the head of a true negro. One of these very primitive combs 

 is in my collection, together with an undress costume of the 

 Amazon in question, and both being very much suited to each 



FOOT OF SPIDER. 

 BEAK OF TOUCAX. 



other. The comb being a simple skewer, the dress is only a 

 few thongs of leather, but they are both equal to the require- 

 ments of their wearers. 



As much time would be lost in combing the hair with a 

 single skewer, especially when that hair belonged to any but 

 the pure negro races, a simple but obvious improvement was 

 introduced. A number of skewers were lashed together side 

 by side, with their ends a little diverging, and thus was formed 

 the germ of our present Combs. 



As to the varieties of the Comb, they are simply endless ; 

 and whether they are intended, in the form of the Currycomb, 

 to smooth the harsh coat of a horse, or, as a small-tooth Comb, 

 to search the hair of the young, they are all based on one 

 principle. 



It is really curious to see how often two men, who cannot 



