ANIMALS, 319 



constitution ; and as that hair which is strongest is most com 

 monly curled, so curled hair is generally regarded among us as 

 a beauty. The Greeks, however, had a very different idea of 

 beauty in this respect ; and seem to have taken one of their pe- 

 culiar national distinctions from the length and the straightness 

 of the hair." 



The nose is the most prominent feature in the face; but, 

 as it has scarcely any motion, and that only in the strongest pas- 

 sions, it rather adds to the beauty than to the expression of the 

 countenance. However, I am told, by the skilful in this branch 

 of knowledge, that wide nostrils add a gxeat deal to the bold and 

 resolute air of the countenance ; and where they are narrow, 

 though it may constitute beauty, it seldom improves expression." 

 The form of the nose, and its advanced position, are peculiar 

 to the human visage alone. Other animals, for the most part, 

 have nostrUs, with a partition between them ; but none of them 

 have an elevated nose. Apes themselves have scarcely any 

 thing else of this feature but the nostrils ; the rest of the feature 

 lying flat upon the visage, and scarcely higher than the cheek- 

 bones. " Among all the tribes of savage men, also, the nose is 

 very flat ; and I have seen a Tartar who had scarcely any thing 

 else but two holes through which to breathe." 



The mouth and lips, next to the eyes, are found to have the 

 greatest expression. The passions have great power over this 

 part of the face ; and the mouth marks its different degrees by 

 its different forms. The organ of speech still more animates 

 this part, and gives it more life than any other feature in the 

 countenance. The ruby colour of the lips, and the white enamel 

 of the teeth, give it such a superiority over every other feature, 

 that it seems to make the principal object of our regards. In 

 fact, the whole attention is fixed upon the lips of the speaker ; 

 however rapid his discourse, however various the subject, the 

 mouth takes correspondent situations ; and deaf men have been 

 often found to see the force of those reasonings which they could 

 not hear, understanding every word as it was spoken. 



" The under jaw in man possesses a great variety of motions ; 

 while the upper has been thought, by many, to be quite im- 

 uioveable.^ However, that it moves in man, a very easy experi- 



2 Mr Buflun i'< of this >pinion. He s;ijv.i that the upper jaw is iuunonalils 



