618 ANATOMY OF VERTEBRATES. 



Seal the ' fur ' gets scanty in the adult (Otaria lobata, e.g.) ; in 

 others it continues abundant in quantity, and of fine quality 

 (Otaria ursina, e.g.); hence a difference in the commercial value 

 of the skins, whereby ' sealers ' distinguish between the ' hair- 

 seals ' and the ' fur-seals.' 



The term ' wool ' is commonly understood to mean the modified 

 hairs of domesticated breeds of sheep, which, through a finely 

 imbricate arrangement of superficial serrated scales, and a 

 curly disposition, have the property of mutual cohesion, called 

 6 felting,' on which depends the value of wool in manufactures. 

 The property is present in a minor degree in the longer, straighter, 

 scantier fleece of such wild sheep as the Himalayan Ovis Viynei, 

 the Ovis Amman of Central Asia, and the Ovis Musimon of 

 Sardinia. In the domesticated races the fleece has been modi- 

 fied and improved, in various degrees, by crossing the breeds, by 

 choice of climate and pasture, and by careful attention and defence 

 during its growth, until not only has the original coarse character 

 of the product disappeared, but qualities of wool of different kinds 

 and of different degrees of superiority have been obtained, gene- 

 rally divisible into two classes, one better adapted for ( carding,' 

 the other for f combing,' and both available for a great variety of 

 useful and elegant textile fabrics. 1 



The fleece of the domesticated varieties of Auchenia (Llama 

 Vicugna) has analogous properties rendering it useful for various 

 manufactures. In all Ruminants the hair is shed annually : this 

 would happen to the wool of Sheep were it not shorn. The 

 Llamas form no exception : the fleece of one in the London Zoo- 

 logical Gardens became ragged and detached in masses in the 

 month of July. Mammals living in cold climes develop a thick 

 undercoat of fur or wool : this is seen in the Musk-bubale, and 

 was the case with the primigenial Elephant 2 and Rhinoceros, 3 its 

 former associates in high northern latitudes. 



The muzzle, the inside of the ears, the sole of the paws, are 

 defended by hair in arctic quadrupeds (e.g. Ursus maritimus). 

 The sole of the foot in the Camel and Dromedary is defended by 



1 In judging of these qualities in wools, it is requisite to test the fineness and elas- 

 ticity of the fibre, the degrees of imbrication of the scaled surface of the fibre as shown 

 by the microscope, the quantity of fibre developed in a given space of the fleece, the 

 comparative freedom of the fleece from extraneous matters, and the skill and care 

 employed in preparatory processes ; such, for example, as that termed ' scouring' the 

 fleece, upon which depends its liability or otherwise to mat at the bottom of the staple, 

 ccxxvm". 



2 ccxx". p. 263. 8 lb. p. 351 (Rhinoceros ticJwrhinits). 



