SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OP MAN. 157 



of age, nor the light yellow or flaxen tint of the fair- 

 haired races. It is rather that sort of colour peculiar 

 to a white horse. 



These peculiarities evidently arise from a defi- 

 ciency in the colouring principle, which is much the 

 same in the skin, hair, and eyes. The latter organs 

 are in the albinos peculiarly sensible to the stimulus 

 of light, in consequence of the want of a black 

 pigment, the office of which is to absorb its super- 

 fluous portions. Hence we find the eyelids of these 

 people generally closed, and the eyes usually ex- 

 hibiting some appearances of morbid phenomena. 

 But in twilight, dusk, or even a close approach to 

 darkness, they see remarkably well. 



This peculiarity 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 indi- 

 viduals thus characterized are observed to be per^ 

 fectly strong and healthy. This variety was first 

 observed in the iVfricans, but it is far from being- 

 peculiar to that race. It has, however, never oc- 

 curred except in detached instances, 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 ca- 

 pillaries are easily filled, and consequently they ex- 

 hibit a general sanguineous tint, deeper and more 



