used principally for children's socks and stockings.

1881. Merino Wool.

Merino wool is the produce of a Spanish breed of sheep. The wool was
introduced into this country about the close of the last century.
George III. was a great patron of this breed. French Merino is made
from this peculiarily soft wool; so also Berlin wool, used for canvas
embroidery.

1882. Angola Wool.

The produce of an African breed of sheep; is a soft hairy wool. Is
used for making Angola shawls and gloves, valued for their extreme
softness and warmth. These were popular till the cotton manufacturers
introduced a very poor imitation make entirely of cotton.

1883. Camel-hair Wool.

Camel-hair wool is the production of the llama, or al-lama, a native
of South America. This ruminant animal resembles in its nature, but
not in its form, a camel. The back and sides of the llama are clothed
with fine long woolly hairs, becoming smooth, silky, and shining
towards the tips, the general colours being of a uniform bright brown.
The native Indians use it in the manufacture of stuffs, ropes, bags,
and mats.

1884. Alpaca.

Al-Paco produces the alpaca wool. This creature is also a species of
camel, though different in shape. Cavier regarded the paco as a
variety of the llama; so also the vicugua. The llama is generally used
as a beast of burden, while the former are used chiefly for their
flesh and wool.

1885. Yak Lace and Fringe.

This is said to be made from the tail hair of an animal resembling an
ox, a horse, and sheep; the first for its shape, the next for its
tail, and the third for its wool. The tail, under the Indian name of
_Chowrie_, is often mounted in horns and silver, and used as a switch
to keep off flies. The yak inhabits the coldest parts of Tibet, India.

1886. Silk.

This well known production of the silk-worm in its natural state, as
reeled from the cocoon, is termed "raw silk;" and before this can be
used for weaving it requires to be twisted, or, as it is technically
termed, "thrown;" that is to say, it is not two threads twisted one
over the other, but the single filament itself is twisted so as to
render it firmer; this is termed "singles." The next process is termed
"tram." This is two threads loosely twisted together. This usually
constitutes the "weft" silk, which is thrown by the shuttle across the
long threads, or "warp," of the p