382 DR. E. LoNNRERG ON A [Apr. 3, 



hairs exhibit the same shade from their tips to their roots, and 

 closely mingle with the completely red hairs. The length of this 

 hair is different in different parts. Where it is longest it measures 

 a little more than 0-045 m., but in some places 003 m. fo 

 0*025 m. or even less. The hair is laid in different directions, as 

 seen in the figure, and cannot have formed a smooth covering on 

 the animal. The size of the individual hairs is variable, but there is 

 no typical wool or underfill*. The thickest hairs (fig. 2, p. 381) 

 measure 80-100 n in optical section, but taper gradually towards 

 both ends. They are flattened and wavy. The medulla occupies the 

 largest part of the hair, so that the cortex does not measure more 

 than 10-13 n in optical section ; but towards the root the medulla 

 becomes scantier and is finally completely broken up. The thinner 

 hairs cannot be classified as wool or underfur. Their diameter in 

 optical section varies from 45 to 55 fx. Their structure is exactly 

 the same as that of the coarser hair. They are flattened and wavy, 

 gradually tapering to a tip which has no medulla ; but their stem 

 exhibits a large medulla, so that the cortex of that part usually 

 measures only 8-10 p. The cortex is, as a rule, thicker on one 

 side, and the cuticle covering it is scaly, so that the edge of the 

 optical margin assumes a more or less distinct serrated appearance. 

 The finer hairs are about ten times as numerous as the coarse hairs ; 

 and on the skin the coarser hair is not very conspicuous, the less 

 so as intermediate sizes can also be seen. 



In attempting to determine to what animal the piece of skin thus 

 described may be referred, it is necessary first to consider the 

 mammals of which remains have been found in the same stratum 

 as this specimen. Of these, of course, Grypotherium is at once 

 excluded, neither the structure of its skin nor that of its hair 

 admitting of any comparison. The Griianaco may also be dismissed 

 at the same time, since its fine wool or fleece bears no resemblance 

 to the hair of this skin, as shown even by Guanaco remains 

 associated with it. The large Cat of Cueva Eberhardt has been 

 identified by Erland Nordenskjiild (with the concurrence of the 

 eminent Danish zoologist, Herluf Winge) as a large variety of 

 Felts onca l . If this great extinct Jaguar had the same black-spotted 

 appearance as the recent one, it is mosi improbable that so large 

 a piece of skin should have been preserved without any black hairs 

 remaining attached to it. If, however, the extinct Jaguar had a 

 different fur-colour, it may be assumed, with a high degree of 

 probability, that the structure of its furry covering was similar to 

 that of the recent Jaguar. But the fur of the latter is distin- 

 guished from that of this piece of skin very readily by being 

 shorter and having a fine underfur. This underfur of the Jaguar 

 does not measure more than 15-30 f.i in optical section, and has 

 quite another structure, being completely devoid of a central 



1 This is the animal called by Santiago Roth "Yemisch li&tai "(" E) Mamifero 

 misterioso de la Patagonia Grypotherium domesticum," r?or Eodolfo Hautlial, 

 Santiago Roth & Robert Lehmann-Nitsche, Revista Mas. La Plata, vol. ix. 1899 

 p. 441). 



