149 



certain small space ; and, as they may be parallel, 

 straight, or curved, or interlaced, or radiated in 

 a manner more or less complete, many subordi- 

 nate distinctions are the consequence. These 

 have been denoted by certain technical terms; 

 which seem scarcely wanted, as the modifications 

 are never such as to render it inconvenient to de- 

 signate them by ordinary language. 



The appearance of a fibrous texture is some- 

 times produced by the parallel position of minute- 

 ly granular or scaly particles, of which the length 

 is greater than the breadth, when no continuous 

 fibres exist. This texture is sometimes combined 

 with the scaly, or passes into it. 



SCALY. 



In the scaly texture, the scales may be con- 

 siderably continuous, when it is easily confounded 

 with a minutely lamellar structure. But, in the 

 predominant instances, the continuity of any scale 

 is soon interrupted, and, in general, they are 

 minute. 



In respect to position, they may be parallel, 

 or confusedly intermixed. 



