34 TIUCIIOLOOIA MAMMALIUM; 



2. That the presence of a button, upon such a hair, distinguishes it from hair-like pro- 

 cesses, which have no buttons. 



3. That each variety of hair has its peculiarly shaped button, by which the hairs of that 

 variety may be known. 



4. But that this shape is liable to variation, owing to either a variation in that of the 

 shaft, to which it belongs, to disease of the hair, or disease in the tissue in which it is 

 imbedded. 



5. That the dimensions of the button differ; but, generally, it is of greater diameter 

 than that of the shaft. 



6. That hairs, not fully developed, are found with no biitton. 



7. That it is probable that there is a connection, through the follicle, between the button 

 and the vessels found in the tissue which surrounds the follicle. 



8. That in combing and dressing the hair of the head, care should be taken not to 

 disturb this connection. 



9. That a separation of the button from these vessels converts the hair into effete matter, 

 causes it to fall out. 



10. That the coloring matter of hair is not elaborated in the button ; for hair of the 

 head often loses its color, yet the button retains its integrity. 



11. That the button is the most perishable part of pile. 



It remains to notice the buttons of the hairs of some of the lower animals. 



If we were not limited in regard to space, we would like to describe and depict the 

 buttons of the pile of the principal part of the lower animals, as they are exhibited in our 

 extensive collection of hair and wool. We feel confident that, at some day, not very 

 remote, the lower animals will be classified by their pile, and that, in so doing, the buttons 

 will be found to be valuable indices of species. 



All that we can do, at present, will be to present the reader with a few of these interest- 

 ing objects. 



Fig. 34 represents these in outline: A, the Quadrumana, Troglodyte gorilla; B, the 

 Horse, (drawn from a hair of the famous running mare Fashion;) C, the Zebra; D, the 



Cow; E, the Arabian bull-calf Holmes, belonging to ; F, the Gnou, or 



Horned-Horse, (this is believed to be a whisker;) G, the Rocky Mountain, American, or 

 Long-Horned Antelope; H, the Elk; J, the Lama; K, the Dasyprocta Nigra; L, the Kan- 

 garoo Rat. 



OF THE APEX, OR POINT OF THE SHAFT. These terms have been used indiscriminately, 

 to designate the superior termination of pile, but it would be better to confine ourselves 

 to the first; for, although every hair has an apex, all hairs are not pointed; nor are any 

 hairs pointed that have been cut or fractured. When viewed under the microscope, these 

 latter are perceived to be more or less abrupt; some are even rounded, or inclined. When 

 pile has been left in its natural state, it is generally pointed at the apex. 



Some writers are of opinion, that the obtuseness of the apex of pile is the result of 

 constant friction. (See Hassal's Micros. Anat., p. 9.) We have seen instances of even 



