“ If a hair be placed on a schoolboy's hand, it is expected to split the cane with which the school-master is punishing him. When the splitting does not take place, the hair will so deaden the pain as to make it scarcely felt. Youths generally pluck hairs from the heads of their playmates on each return of their birthdays. They also pull the hair upwards at the back of the head, in order to ensure them a lucky and prosperous year. ”

“ The folk-lore of hair contains several curious items. We are told that if a horse-hair be placed in a stream of running water it will soon become alive; but those who are only very slightly acquainted with natural history will be able to correct and also to explain the origin of this mistake. ”

“ Red-haired persons, we are told, do not soon turn grey; their passions are more intense than those whose hair is of a different colour; and they are not unfrequently reproached with having descended from the Scots and Danes. Red-haired children are supposed to indicate infidelity on the part of the mother; they are consequently looked upon as unlucky, and are not wanted in a neighbour's house on the morning of New Year's Day. Hair on the arms is considered to betoken coming riches ”