I, with the help of Bruce Abaloz, have been trying to do cross 
sections of animal hairs without much success. I collected the hairs 
during a fauna survey in Pakistan. A cross section is the best 
characteristic for identifying unknown animal hairs. The literature 
(which is old) suggests that you use stainless steel slides with 0.8 
mm holes drilled in them. The hairs are packed tightly in the holes 
and  then cut off on either side of the slide. A cover slip can be 
mounted and the cross section viewed.

Does anybody know a different, more efficient method than this for 
doing cross sections of hairs?

Thanks,
Rhidian


_________________________
Rhidian Harrington
Department of Zoology
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
AUSTRALIA  3010

Ph:  +61-3-8344 4354 (W)
      +61-3-9844 2703 (H)
Fax: +61-3-8344 7909