370 



MR. J. BLAND SUTTON ON THE 



[Apr. 19, 



"On tlie inner side of tiie forearm close to the wrist is an oval 

 patch of spine-like processes, about one inch long ai>d one third 

 of an inch broad in the middle. The spines are longest in the 

 middle portion of the patch, and decrease in length towards both 

 extremities. Examined with a hand-lens they present the appearance 

 of being composed of a number of fine threads closely bound 



Fie. 2. 







The forearm of Chiroffahus coqv.ereli, showing the tuft of long hairs. The 

 larger one is the forearm of Lemur oatfa, showing the raised patch of 

 hairless skin covering the collection of sweat-ducts. The tuft of long 

 hairs is also shown. 



together ; the extremity of the spines is blunt, and the longer ones 

 are somewhat curved and overlap each other. The patch of integu- 

 ment which bears these spines is sharply marked off from the sur- 

 rounding integument, and no transitional forms between the hairs 

 of the general body-surface and these peculiar spines could be 

 observed." When the skin of the arm was removed an oval gland 

 of the size and shape of an almond corresponded to this patch of 

 spines on both arms, but no duct could be detected in connexion 

 with the gland. 



These observations possessed for me extreme interest, for I 

 felt assured that the patch of spines was in reality formed by the 

 hardened secretion of the gland underlying them. At once I began 

 to accumulate material for an inquiry into the comb-like organ on 



