The hair from the tails of mares, being commonlr 

 .wetted by their urine, is in a measure rotten ; neither do I 

 consider it to be, naturally, and abstracted from that im- 

 perfection, so firm and so durable as horses 1 hair. 



The manner of making lines of horses' hair, will be duly 

 and amply described. They may be stained in any of the 

 modes already pointed out; but, to free them from grease 

 and oilier impurities, should be previously washed in a 

 very weak solution of lime in water, or a strong one of 

 whiting in stale beer. 



To make a Line of Horses' Hair. 



Take three or four hairs of nearly equal length and sub- 

 stance (for there is great choice in that respect), and tie 

 them in a common knot, observing diat'lialf the butts and 

 half die points be respectively together ; the butts being 

 the part where they are pulled or cut from the animal, are 

 the thickest ^ the heirs taper from them to their points. 



The due inversion of one-half the number of hairs, or 

 as nearly so as odd numbers may admit, will cause the 

 length of a link thus made, to be equally thick in every 

 part; which would hot be die case, were all the butts 

 and all the points together j whence die line would be 

 weaker at the joints than elsewhere. 



If, indeed, an additional hair is progressively given to 

 everj- link, then all the points should be together, and 

 should join to the next lower or thinner link; but such a 

 line would soon acquire too much thickness. 



Having knotted the hairs togedier, take a quill, and after 

 cutting away both the feather end, and the soft part which 

 was in the skin of die goose,, plug up one end with a piece 

 6f cork, having in its sides three or four very small nicks* 



