The hair of a rabbit can be divided into three types: "longer,Website:http://www.xc-cashmere.com, rectrix guard hairs, stiff at the base; the more numerous tectrix barbed hairs forming the major part of the coat, which share a hair follicle with the third type-the shorter hairs making up the undercoat. Colloquially, these types are calledguide hairs: external hairs, long and roughguard hairs (also called "barbes") four guard hairs surround each guide hair, sealing the coatdown: there are approximately sixty down hairs[citation needed] for each guide hair; they are very short and barely visible, and serve to insulate the rabbit.