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JOURNAL, R.A.S. ( CEYLON). 



[Vol. IX. 



5. Jimmy : Quite black, short cut, thick rough hair. 



6. Ukku Banda : Hair long, black, with brownish shade, 

 curly, gathered in a knot ; eyebrows moderately developed ; 

 eyelashes short. 



7. Punchi Banda : Hair long and wavy, gathered in a 

 knot behind ; black beard, thin, but long and somewhat 

 wavy ; breast and arms strongly covered with hair. 



I add here also the results of the examination of the two 

 Indians 



1. Murugappa : Hair smooth and black, cut short in front, 

 slung in a knot behind ; beard thin, but individual hairs 

 strong ; breast and abdomen covered with strong and longhair. 



2. Pichchai : Hair quite black, drawn back tightly, 

 scarcely wavy ; eyebrows strong ; eyelashes long ; mous- 

 tache black and strong ; whiskers moderately strong. 



On microscopic examination I find that in the hair of the 

 Sinhalese there is, without exception, almost a complete failure 

 of, or an extremely diminished, medulla. On transverse section 

 a very small central pith is occasionally observed, generally 

 not greater in diameter than a blood corpuscle, and quite 

 colourless ; only sometimes, as, for example, in the case of the 

 little Jimmy (Sinni), this narrow strip of medulla is pig- 

 mented. The peculiar colouring matter of the hair lies in 

 the fibrous portion, and strongest in the surperficial parts. 

 Only the outermost layer (cuticula) is quite colourless and 

 homogeneous. The colour, which is due to particles of pig- 

 ment arranged lengthwise in stripes, varies very considerably. 

 In many of the hairs observed lengthwise the colouring 

 particles appear quite black, and also on cross section the 

 particles appear almost pure black, whilst in other cases the 

 external particles appear of a brown colour, and the cross 

 section of same show light brown, nay sometimes yellowish- 

 brown particles. This is the case with Lusa Nona and her 

 brother Andre Appu, although their hair, on microscopic 

 examination, appeared a pure black. Even in Ukku Banda 

 the microscopic colour is brownish. 



