The Descent of Man

upper surfaces of monkeys and of other mammals
being more thickly clothed than the lower
surfaces. This has likewise been observed by
various authors. Prof. P. Gervais ('Histoire Nat.
des Mammiferes,' tom. i. 1854, p. 28), however,
states that in the Gorilla the hair is thinner on
the back, where it is partly rubbed off, than on
the lower surface.), is opposed to the supposition
that man became naked through the action
of the sun. Mr. Belt believes (89. The 'Naturalist
in Nicaragua,' 1874, p. 209. As some confirmation
of Mr. Belt's view, I may quote the following
passage from Sir W. Denison ('Varieties of
Vice-Regal Life,' vol. i. 1870, p. 440): "It is said
to be a practice with the Australians, when the
vermin get troublesome, to singe themselves.")
that within the tropics it is an advantage to man
to be destitute of hair, as he is thus enabled to
free himself of the multitude of ticks (acari) and
other parasites, with which he is often infested,
and which sometimes cause ulceration. But
whether this evil is of sufficient magnitude to