90 



FIRST CLASS OF THE VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 



Animals of cold countries approach towards this peculiarity of the Siieep. In warm 

 regions, on the contrary, the bristly hairs are more strongly developed, and the woolly 

 hairs become almost wholly wanting. The quantity, or rather the proportional abun- 

 dance of the latter, is generally in the inverse ratio of the temperature, while that of 

 the former is directly proportional to it, or nearly so. 



The climate has a great influence on the nature of the hair, especially among the do- 

 mestic animals. It becomes long and rigid in cold regions, as we remark in the Sibe- 

 rian Dog and Iceland Ram, Syria and Spain produce an opposite effect, and these more 

 favoured climates produce a corresponding change in the hair, which may become 

 tufted, fine, and silky. These qualities may be remarked in the Spanish Sheep, the 

 Maltese Dogs, as well as in the Goats, Cats, and Rabbits of Angora. 



The coarser hairs bear a greater predominance in certain parts of the body, especially 

 among the Males, such as in the cervical region of the Lion and Horse, where they form 

 a mane, and on the tail in many species. Other animals are covered in every part 

 of the body by very long hairs ; such, in particiilar, is the Bear of India ( Ursus labia- 

 tu:s), in which the hairs are almost every where from seven to nine inches in length, 

 and in some places even a foot long. 



In some species the fur is mixed, and in others it is sometimes composed entirely 

 of spines, more or less abundant, and of various structure ; such are the Hedgehogs, 

 the Tenrecs, the genus Echimys, the Porcupines, and many others. These spines 

 or prickles are usually pointed, as their name indicates, and each is composed in 

 general of a single hair. A great development of the muscles of the skin is always 

 found in all species armed with spines, and this arrangement is especially remarkable 

 in the Hedgehog. It may also be observed, on comparing different species, that the 

 spines are arranged in small and regular groups, the disposition of which is peculiar 

 in each species. 



It becomes diiBcult to examine the structure of the hairs on the human body, be- 

 cause they are slender ; but the bristles of the Hogs or the whiskers of the Cats are 

 better adapted for this kind of inquiry. On examining the bristle of a Wild Boar 

 with the microscope, we observe that it is grooved throughout the whole of its length 

 by about twenty furrows, formed by an equal number of filaments, and the union of 

 which constitutes the surface of the hair. In the middle of the bristle there are 

 two canals, which contain a humour called the pith or marrow. The filaments of the 

 hair separate on being dried, as may be remarked in the bristles of brushes, where 

 the cavities may be observed to be empty, and a few laminae cross each other in dif- 

 ferent directions. 



The hairs of the Elk and Musk, with the spines of the Hedgehog, the Tenrec, and 

 the Porcupine, are not altogether similar ; their surfaces being covered with a horny 

 lamina, varying in thickness, and a few furrows only ran be observed. Internally 

 they contain a white spongy substance, which appears at first sight strongly to re- 

 semble the pith of the Elder-tree (Sambucus nigra'). 



The colour of the hair appears partly to depend upon that of the mucous tissue ; 

 for where animals have differently coloured spots upon the hair, these usually indicate 

 corresponding colours below them in the skin. Even in the human species, many 

 striking relations of this kind may be remarked. Thus, Negroes in general have the 

 head black. Persons with red hair often have the skin freckled or covered with red- 

 dish spots, while black hair usually accompanies a dark complexion. 



The external colours of Animals depending on those of their respective mucous 

 tissues are exceedingly various. Among the Mammalia, it is very seldom that they 

 appear of a vivid hue. On some species of Mandrills, the nose and hips are bright 

 rud, violet, and carmine. The mucous tissue is also pure white on their cheeks ; and 

 of a beautiful silvery whiteness on the bellies of the Cetacea. In the Mammalia gene- 

 rally, the mucous tissue imparts its hue to the hair and nails. It is often observed to 

 he coloured within the cavities of organs, into which it has been prolonged, such as 

 on the palate, the tongue, the ear, the conjunctive and nasal membranes of the Quad- 

 rumana, Dogs, Ruminantia, and Cetacea. The mucous tissue appears to be thickest 

 in the class last mentioned. On the backs of the Dolphins and Porpoises it is very 

 thick, and of a deep black. 



The colours of the JTammalia have not that metallic lustre which characterises 

 a large number of the genera of Birds, there being one solitary exception to this ob- 

 servation in the brilliant lustre of the Chrysochloris, or Cape Mnle, "VVe do not find 

 among these animals the dazzling brightness of the Parroquets, the Tanagers, or the 

 Flamingos, nor can we discover anything analogous to those ornamental appendages 

 which adorn the plumage of many Birds. There is another peculiarity in the colours 

 of the Mammalia, that they are in general much paler and fainter beneath than on 

 the back or flanks. This may be observed not only in the true Quadrupeds, but even 

 in those species, such as the Kangaroos, which more or less are in the continual habit 

 of maintaining an upright position. Yet, without enumerating all those species which 

 are entirely of one colour, such as the Coaita {Ateles panisciis), the Polar Bear 

 ( Ursus maritimiis')^ we find some exceptions among the Rodentia, and especially in 

 the order of Carnassiers, such as the Hamster, the Gluttons, the Badger, and some 

 other species, while many even have the belly absolutely black. In particular, we 

 may notice a Carnassier recently described, for the first time, by M. Frederic Cuvier, 

 who has assigned to it the specific name of Panda. 



The colours of the males among the ^lammalia are most commonly the same as 

 those of the females, excepting perhaps that the shades of the latter are not quite so 

 deep. In this respect they differ remarkably from the greater number of Birds, in 

 which the colours of the female differ almost wholly from those of the male. How- 

 ever, all the other circumstances which influence the colours of Birds act equally 

 upon those of the Mammalia, although most commonly in a different manner. Age^ 

 for example, varies the colours of the fur only in a small number of species, as among 

 the Stags, the Tapirs, and the Lion, all of which are clothed at their birth in a kind 

 of livery, or peculiar arrangement of colours. Their coats, instead of being uniform, 

 as in the adults, are at first ornamented with spots, regularly disposed, and analogous 

 in their arrangement to those observable in the adult animals of other species belong- 

 ing to the same genus. Thus the spots of the young Fawns are white, similar to 

 those of the adult Axis ; while they are bhck in the Lioness' cubs, in the same man- 

 ner as we see in most adult Cats, This very remarkable relation between the system 



of colouring belonging to the young individuals of one species, and that observed in 

 other species of the same genus, may also be traced among the Birds. But the young 

 of the Mammalia differ from those of Birds in this respect, that — while the plumarre 

 of the latter, most commonly resembling that of their mothers, is duller in its hues 

 than at a more advanced period of hfe — the livery of the young Mammalia is, on the 

 contrary, an ornament which they gradually lose as their years advance, until they 

 finally resign the spotted and agreeable garb of youth for one of a more simple and 

 uniform character. 



The colouring matter of the hairs resides in the horny part of their substance, and 

 not in the pith, which is commonly white. We can observe this structure most con- 

 veniently in the spines of the Porcupine, from their unusual magnitude. Some haira 

 are coloured differently in several parts of their length, while the colours themselves 

 may be infinitely various, both in quality and intensity. In general, the hairs of the 

 Mammalia are round, and this form is observed more especially in the hair of the head 

 or mane. On the tail of the Hippopotamus, as well as on the body of the Great Ant- 

 eater, and especially on the Ornithorhynchus, they assume a flattened appearance ; 

 and in several species of the Ruminantia, especially the Musk (Moschis inoschi- 

 ferus), the hairs appear as if they had been crimped. In stime varieties of Goats, 

 Cats, and others, the hairs are fine, long, and silky; they appear both crisped and 

 frizzled in the Rams. From their great thickness, stiffness, and elevated position 

 in the Hogs, Hedgehogs, and Porcupines, they have received the name of Spines 

 in the two last-mentioned animals, and of Bristles in the first. 



All Mammalia possess a certain quantity of hair, without excepting the Cetacea, 

 in general destitute of this covering. Man is covered in almost every part of the body 

 by scattered hairs, although they are not easily perceived in some places from their 

 excessive fineness. Those of the head and beard are the longest; those of the axilla 

 and pubes are next in length. On the interior of the nose and ears they are 

 shorter, and on the remaining parts of the body they appear of a still more diminu- 

 tive length. Contrary to the arrangement in the other Mammalia, the hair is longer 

 on the breast and abdomen than on the back. There is never any hair on the palms 

 of the hands or on the soles of the feet. 



Among the Quadruraana, the true Apes have the hair of the head in general of the 

 same length as that of the body. The hairs which cover the fore-arm point, upwards 

 towards the elbow, instead of being directed towards the hand, as we may see in the 

 Orang-Outang and some other species. The buttocks are callous in a great many 

 Quadrumana, and entirely deprived of hair. 



In most species of Cheiroptera, a few scattered hairs only can be seen on the mem- 

 branes of the wings, the nose, and the ears. One species of Bat (Vespertilio lasi- 

 uriis, Linn.) has also a few upon the tail. The remainder of the body is covered 

 by short, fine, and villous liair, as may be seen in the Flying-cats (^GalcopithecTisJj 

 and other animals of their order. 



The spines of the Hedgehog are found only upon the head and back ; the limbs and 

 lower parts of the body are covered vt'ith stiff bristles. In these respects, the Tenrecs 

 resemble the common Hedgehog. In some species the spines and bristles are mixed 

 together indiscriminately. 



The hair is fine, short, and close in the Moles and Shrews, so that their skins seem 

 as soft as velvet to the touch. 



Among the Carnivora the hair varies considerably. There are two kinds of hair 

 in the Weasels, Sables, Ermines, Martins, and othera ; the one being very fine, thick- 

 set, intermixed, and placed close to the skin ; while the other, which is longer and 

 stiffer, alone appears at the surface. These two kinds constitute the finer furs. The 

 amphibious Mammalia have short, rigid, and very close hair. 



The arrangement found in the Carnivora may also be remarked among the finer 

 haired Rodentia. The spines of the Porcupine are more slender, short and flexible 

 on the head, neck, and belly, than on the back. There are about ten or twelve placed 

 upon the tad, and resembling the tubes of quills, truncated at the free extremitv. A 

 rustling sound is emitted from these spines when the animal moves its skin. 



Among the Edentata there is found a considerable diversity in the quality of the 

 hair. It is broad and flat in the great Ant-eater {Mrjrmecopkaga Jiibata), and has 

 a longitudinal furrow in both surfaces, so that each hair presents the appearance of a 

 dried blade of grass. The two-toed Ant-eaters are covered, on the contrary, with very 

 fine wool. Several have hard and sharp-edged scales placed one over another, like the 

 tiles of a house, as we see an example m the Manis. Others are covered with prickles, 

 like the spinous Ant-eater (Echidna). The Arraadilloes (Z?ajj//J7/.v) have, in addition 

 to the scales or osseous bands, which cover the back and head in regular compart- 

 ments, some scattered hairs, which are short and rigid like those of the Elephant. 

 These hairs drop off, however, as the animal advances in age. 



The Hogs, of all Pachydermata, have the greatest quantity of hairs, which in them 

 are called bristles. These are scattered and frequently bifid at their free extremity. 

 The other genera of this family are comparatively almost destitute of hair. It is in 

 general short in the Solipeda, excepting on the mane and tail, where it receives 

 the name of Horse-hair (c7-ines). 



The Bulls, Deer, Antelopes, and Giraffe, have short hair in general. In the Ca- 

 mels it is very fine and soft, and remarkably so in the Lamas. All of them may 

 have callosities, which are destitute of hair, on the knees and breast. Goats' hair is 

 long and fine, extending to a pointed beard under the chin. The hair of Sheep is 

 long, and readily distinguished by that crisp and frizzled appearance, well known in 

 the wool of commerce. 



The Hair of all these animals, when submitted to a chemical analysis, yields nearly 

 the same results, whether it be examined under the form of wool, bristles, spines, 

 or scales. On being subjected to the action of Heat, in open vessels, it fuses or li- 

 quifies at first by swelling up. It subsequently emits a white flame, and resolves into 

 a black carbon, the incineration of which is very difficult. Hair yields, on distilla- 

 tion, a reddish liquor, containing prussiate of ammonia, and another salt of an am- 

 moniacal base, combined with a peculiar animal acid, which Berthollet has named 

 Zoonate of Ammonia. The carbonaceous residue at the bottom of the still is light, 

 and contains cai'bon and phosphate of lime. The Hair does not dissolve completely 

 in boiling water, a mucilaginous matter, which is the pith or medulla, being sepa- 



