120 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



to each of two pair of them a nose, in one case 

 directed to the right, and in the other to the left, 

 and to each of the other two pair a very small 

 portion of the upper part of the nose, all the 

 four pair of eyes lost their front direction, and 

 looked to the right or to the left, according to the 

 direction of the nose, or of the portion of it 

 which was added. 



But the effect thus produced is not limited, as 

 Dr. Wollaston remarks, to the mere change in 

 the direction of the eyes, " for a total difference 

 of character may be given to the same eyes by a 

 due representation of the other features. A lost 

 look of devout abstraction in an uplifted counte- 

 nance, may be exchanged for an appearance of 

 inquisitive archness in the leer of a younger face 

 turned downwards and obliquely towards the 

 opposite side," as in Fig. 27, 28. This, how- 

 ever, is perhaps not an exact expression of the 

 fact. The new character which is said to be 

 given to the eyes is given only to the eyes in 

 combination with the new features, or, what is 

 probably more correct, the inquisitive archness is 

 in the other features, and the eye does not belie it. 



Dr. Wollaston has not noticed the converse of 

 these illusions, in which a change of direction is 

 given to fixed features by a change in the direc- 

 tion of the eyes. This effect is finely seen in 

 some magic lantern sliders, where a pair of eyes 

 is made to move in the head of a figure, which 

 invariably follows the motion of the eyeballs. 



Having thus determined the influence which the 

 general perspective of the face has upon the 

 apparent direction of the eyes in a portrait, Dr. 

 Wollaston applies it to the explanation of the 



