It is possible also that in the lacing we have a means by which a hat was originally shaped, and that the lace is really a hat-band threaded through the material of the head-dress instead of being tied round outside. The first diagram on page 57 shows a flat piece of leather cut into a circular form; the next shows it perforated and a lace put through the openings; the third indicates how by tightening the string a crown could be made to the hat. [Illustration: FIG. 54.--A disc of leather.] [Illustration: FIG. 55.--The disc perforated and the lace inserted.] [Illustration: FIG. 56.--The lace tightened to form a crown.] [Illustration: FIG. 57.--The ends of the lace tied as a bow inside.] In time, when the crown was made in different ways, it would be easy to transfer the lacing to the lining as seen already in the hunting hat (Figure 53). It is interesting to note that a small bow is also found inside ladies' hats, and often used as a place on which to put the name of the maker. (See Figure 58.) [Illustration: FIG. 58.--A bow fastened to the lining of a lady's hat.] [Illustration: FIG. 59.--Plumes on the left side.] Sir George Darwin has shown why plumes are, and used to be, on the left side of a hat only. In the days when the feathers were particularly long there was also plenty of fighting, and it only needs the attention to be drawn to the point, to make one realize that if the plume had been on the right side, it might often have got in the way of a sword and thereby caused the overthrow or even death of its wearer. At the present day in the army (see Figure 59), the plumes will be found on the left side as in the days of cavaliers. Sir George Darwin[8] has traced the origin of the busby, and has shown that the little red flap that hangs on the left side as a useless appendage is really the original cap. Busbies were the special attributes of the Hussars, who were originally Hungarian soldiers. It is the peasant's cap of Hungary that is the forerunner of the military head-dress which we are considering, and it consisted of a red cap of cloth with a band of fur round the edge. As time went on, the fur on the cap, which was adopted in the end by various regiments, became wider and wider, and the original red cap got smaller and smaller until the form of the modern busby was reached. In some cases even the flap already mentioned has gone, though the fact that the top of the busby is made of cloth instead of fur still points to its origin. (See Figures 60 and 61.) [Illustration: FIG. 60.--The red Hungarian cap, which was the forerunner of the busby.] [Illustration: FIG. 61.--A busby (of the Honourable Artillery Company) in which the cap is a vestige only.]