A.VIMALS. 407 



But we are not to suppose that the sun is tbe only cause of 

 darkening tbe skin ; the wind, extreme cold, hard labour, or 

 coarse and sparing nourishment, are all found to contribute to 

 this effect. We find tbe peasants of every country, who are 



of the want of a black pigment, the office of which is to absorb its superflu- 

 ous portions. Hence we find the eyelids of these people generally closed, 

 and the eyes usually exhibiting some appearances of morbid phenomem. 

 But in twilight, dusk, or even a close approach to darkness, they see re 

 markably well. This ptculiarity exists from birth, never changes, and 

 may be propagated by generation. Some would refer the albino variety to 

 disease, but this notion appears incorrect, inasmuch as most of the indivi. 

 duals thus characterized are ob.<erved to be perfectly strong and healthy. 

 This variety was first observed in the Africans, but it is far from being pecu- 

 liar to that race. It has, however, never occurred except in detached in- 

 stances, for though it is observed to be more prevalent in some parts of the 

 world than others, the notion of entire albino tribes has been exploded. 

 There is another race of men, with a remarkably fair complexion, yellow, 

 flaxen, or red hair, and blue or gray eyes. In these persons the cutaneous 

 capillaries are easily filled, and consequently they exhibit a general san- 

 guineous tint, deeper and more florid in the face. The ancient and modern 

 Germans belong to this variety, and generally the Danes, Dutch, Swedes, 

 English, &C- Lastly, a race very extensive is found with skin of a brownish 

 white, and dark brown or black liair. Tlie Southern Europeans and Western 

 Asiatics are of this character. 



2. The second grand variety in haman colour is yellow or olive. This 

 characterizes all the Mongolian tribes, and, generally speaking, most of the 

 natives of Upper Asia. 



3. Is the red or copper colour, which in various shades is prevalent over 

 the entire American continent, and chiefly confined to it. 



4. Brown or tawny. This in lighter or darker variations belongs to the 

 inhabitants of the peninsula of Malacca, and is extended through most of the 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean. 



5. Black, in an amazing variety of shades, characterizes all the African 

 continent, the northern and southern parts excepted. New Holland, Van 

 Uieman's Land, New Guinea, New Hebrides, and some other islands of the 

 South Sea. It is mingled with the ordinary colour of the natives in Brazil, 

 California, and India. 



It is not to be supposed that these different colours, thtis generally describ- 

 ed, prevail each of them uniformly in all the individuals of the race ; on the 

 contrary, there are considerable gradations, and even tribes have been foiuad 

 among the Americans, and individuals are constantly produced in each res. 

 pective race with characteristics approaching to those of some other Chil. 

 dren born from an intermixture of different races hold generally a middle 

 station between tlie two. Thus the Mulatto forms a medium between the 

 African and European. The colour will be more or less dark according to 

 the complexion of the European father or mother. The cheeks are not 

 ruddy, and the hair is black and curled, but less short than the negroes 

 1 he iris is al» ays dark. 



••'rom the Europeans and Mulattoes proceed what are railed Tercerons. 



