Edward Lambert, born in the 1700s in England, was to all appearances a normal boy until he entered puberty, whereupon his skin turned black and thickened, hardening into scales, solid like the shafts of feathers.

Edward and his father, who had the same condition, were by no means shy of their extraordinary looks. They exhibited themselves in London: "A man and his son, cover'd from head to foot with solid quills, except their face, the palms of their hands, and bottoms of their feet."

Despite reports that the scales were so hard "that with the touch of a finger they make a sound like stones striking together," the scaly men were sexually successful, fathering many children and grandchildren -- who also grew up to develop scales.