! 



A HISTORY OF 



eyes aro reckoned the most beautiful where 

 die shade is the deepest ; and either in these, 

 or the blue eyes, the lire, which gives its 

 finest expression to the eye, is more distin- 

 guishable in proportion to the darkness of 

 the tint. For this reason, the black eyes, as 

 they are called, have the greatest vivacity; 

 but, probably, the blue have the most power- 

 ful effect in beauty, as they reflect a greater 

 variety of lights, being composed <5f more 

 various colours. 



This variety, which is found in the colour 

 of the eyes, is peculiar to man, and one or two 

 other kinds of animals ; but, in general, the 

 colour in any one individual is the same in 

 all the rest. The eyes of oxen are brown ; 

 those of sheep of a water-colour; those of 

 goats are gray : " and it may also be, in ge- 

 neral, remarked, that the eyes of most white 

 animals are red ; thus the rabbit, the ferret, 

 and, even in the human race, the white Moor, 

 all have their eyes of a red colour." 



Although the eye, when put into motion, 

 seems to be drawn on one side, yet it only 

 moves round the centre ; by which its co- 

 loured part moves nearer or farther from the 

 angle of the eye-lids, or is elevated or depres- 

 sed. The distance between the eyes is less 

 in man than in any other animal : and in some 

 of them it is so great, that it is impossible 

 that they should ever view the same object 

 with both eyes at once, unless it be very far 

 off! " This, however, in them, is rather an 

 advantage than an inconvenience, as they are 

 thus able to watch round them, and guard 

 against the dangers of their precarious situa- 

 tion." 



Next to the eyes, the features, which most 

 give a character to the face, are the eye-brows; 

 which being, in some measure, more appa- 

 rent than the other features, are most readi- 

 ly distinguished at a distance. " Le Brun, 

 in giving a painter directions, with regard to 

 the passions, places the principal expression 

 of the face in the eye-brows. From their ele 

 vation and depression, most of the furious pas- 

 sions are characterized; and such as have 

 this feature extremely moveable, are usually 

 known to have an expressive face. By means 

 of these w r e can imitate all the other passions, 

 as they are raised or depressed at command ; 

 the rest of the features are generally fixed ; 



or, when put into motion, they do not obey 

 the will : the mouth and eyes, in an actor, for 

 instance, may, by being violently distorted, 

 give a very different expression from what he 

 would intend ; but the eye-brows can scarce- 

 ly be exerted improperly ; their being raised, 

 denotes all those passions which pride or 

 pleasure inspire ; and their depression marks 

 those which are the effects of contemplation 

 and pain ; and such who have this feature, 

 therefore, most at command, are often found 

 to excel as actors." 



The eye-lashes have an effect, in giving ex- 

 pression to the eye, particularly when long 

 and close : they soften its glances, and im- 

 prove its sweetness. Man and apes are the 

 only animals that have eye-lashes both upon 

 the upper and lower lids ; all other animals 

 want them on the lid below. 



The eye-lids serve to guard the ball of the 

 eye, and to furnish it with a proper moisture. 

 The upper lid rises and falls ; the lower has 

 scarcely any motion; and although JbjeLrJbeing 

 moved depends on the will, yet it often hap- 

 pens that the will is unable to keep them 

 open, when sleep or fatigue oppresses the 

 mind. In birds and amphibious quadrupeds, 

 the lower lid alone has motion ; fishes and 

 insects have no eye-lids whatsoever. 



The forehead makes a large part of the 

 face, and a part which chiefly contributes to 

 its beauty. It ought to be justly proportioned; 

 neither too round nor too flat ; neither too nar- 

 row nor too low ; and the hair should come 

 thick upon its extremities. It is known to 

 every body how much the hair tends to im- 

 prove the face ; and how much the being bald 

 serves to take away from beauty. The high- 

 est part of the head is that which becomes 

 bald the soonest, as well as that part which 

 lies immediately above the temples. The 

 hair under the temples, and at the back of the 

 head, is very seldom known to fail, " and 

 women are much less apt to become bald 

 than men. Mr. Buffbn seems to think they 

 never become bald at all ; but we have too 

 many instances of the contrary among us, not 

 to contradict very easily the assertion. Of all 

 parts or appendages of the body, the hair is 

 that which is found most different, in different 

 climates; and often not only contributes to 

 mark the country, but also the disposition of 



