1900.] 



PIECE OF SKIN FROM PATAGONIA. 



3S1 



found it was rolled up like a ball ; but by moistening the specimen 

 he was able to unwrap it and stretch it into the form shown in the 

 accompanying photograph (see fig. 1, p. 380). It measures about 

 0-15 m. in length, but its breadth varies betweenO-05 m.andO-015 m. 

 Its thickness,' where stretched, is quite 0-002 m. : where contracted, 

 somewhat greater. It is very densely covered with hair of a 



Fig. 2. 



Micrographic reproduction of some of the hairs of the piece of skin. 



reddish-brown colour, redder than the coloration common in cattle 

 and perhaps best described as fox-red. The hair seems to bo a 

 little more shiny than that of a fox, and occasionally it appears 

 to be bleached to a pale yellow. It is, however, uncertain whether 

 the paler spots are original or due to accident : it can only be said 

 that they are probably original, because the paler tufts and single 



