THE ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTOEY. [SIXTH SERIES,] " per litora spargite museum. Naiades, et circiim vitreos considite fontes : PoUice ^-irgineo teneros hie carpite floras : Floribus et piotum. divae, replete canistrum. At Tos, o NjTuphae Craterides, ite sub undas ; Ite, recurvato variata corallia trunco Vellite muscosis e rupibus, et raihi conehas Ferte, Deae pelagi, etpingui conchylia succo." y.PartheniiGiannetfasiiEcl. I, No. 67. JULY 1893. I. — Observations on the Origin of Hair and on Scales in Mammals. By Max Weber *. No structure is more characteristic of Mammals than the hairy covering. From a physiological standpoint also it is in many respects a very significant organ, and on this head naturalists are generally agreed. In striking contrast to this conviction is our ignorance as to the origin of this important structure. If we are unwilling to regard hair as an organ sui generis^ our knowledge as to its phylogeny does not rise above the level of hypotheses. There are two hyjootheses which may be mentioned. Of these one which has been repeatedly expressed assumes that hair, feathers, and scales are comparable structures, and that the two former have developed from scales or scale-like formations. The latter conclusion is to a certain extent an evident one, in so far as scales are more primitive contrivances on the part of the integument, and arc characteristic of the Reptiles, which arc inferior to the Birds and Mammals in position. * Translated from the * Anatomischer Anzeiger,' viii. Jahrg-., uos. 12 and 13, May 13, 1893, pp. 413-423. Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. xii. 1
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