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ALBINOS. 



THIS name is applied to a class, including members 'of the human race, animals, 

 and birds, having a remarkable peculiarity in the physical constitution. No doubt, 

 many of our readers are familiar with the pink eyes and snow-white hair of the human 

 class, as exhibited by show-men throughout the country, but are unaware that the 

 same freak of nature extends to the bird family. 



Scientists claim that the peculiar appearance arises from the absence of coloring- 

 matter, which is ordinarily deposited in the outer layers of the epidermis, and affects 

 the entire body, the appearance continuing through life. The skin is milk white or 

 pearly in color ; and in the bird family the feathers are of the same color, being very 

 soft and silky in texture. The peculiar distinguishing mark of the Albino is the 

 pinkeyes; although a number of the bird family are naturally white in color, a 

 striking instance being the White Java Sparrow, only the Albinos have pink eyes. 

 The pupil of the eye is bright red, and the iris pale rose. This change in the eyes 

 is also attributable to the absence of coloring-matter. Albino birds do not have so 

 sharp sight as other birds, and they cannot bear a strong light : otherwise the Albino 

 is as strong and hardy as any other member of his special class. 



Many writers on the subject of Albinos claim that all are weak and enervated, but 

 their observations probably did not extend beyond the human family. Any lack of 

 vigor or strength in Albino men or women of the museums probably comes from the 

 natural indolence arising from having nothing to do but merely to sit day in and 

 day out as curiosities. Such a life must induce weakness and inertia. Darwin, 

 among other writers, claims that Albinism is hereditary in the human race, and 

 cites several instances m support of his theory : other writers claim that this is not 

 so, but that the peculiarity is merely a freak of nature, and is apt to occur in every 

 race. The subject m the case of birds has never been full}' treated upon. I know 

 of no case where Albinos have been born when the parent birds bred in confinement, 

 and the instances where the birds are seen in a wild state are remarkably few. 



Albinos in olden times were held as objects of religious worship. The white ele- 

 phant in India is held in the highest esteem of any animal known. It appears, that, 

 in the case of animals and birds, the Albino is regarded as an object of veneration 

 by the rest of the flock ; and they follow him, and regard his every whim. In some 

 cases the peculiar appearance, or whiteness, is seen only in spots on the body, giving 

 a beautiful speckled appearance : but there are true Albinos ; because Albinism, as 

 above mentioned, is betrayed by the appearance of the eyes. Many bird-lovers 

 have, no doubt, witnessed this freak of nature in the most common of our wild birds, 

 particularly in some specimens of the many flocks which inhabit the parks and 



