#it Cnkitr-lltiihicss. 



By F\iov. W. IIAMSAY, Ph.D. 



(Abstract.) 



IT liiia been supf^njskid as a possible explanation of the 

 inability of certain persons correctly to distinguish 

 certain colours, that it is only recently that the human race 

 has acquired an appreciation of colour ; and Mr. Gladstone, 

 to whom, I believe this remarkable theory is due, quotes the 

 ancient Greeks as an instance of this curious lack of per- 

 ception, stating in support of his view that theii- nomen- 

 clature for colour is defective ; that one and the same word 

 was used to express whatnow-a-days people regard as totally 

 distinct colour-pei'ceptions. But Mr. Gladstone confuses 

 two wholly different things : the ability to perceive and the 

 power of naming. The Celtic languages have even now no 

 distinguishing names for blue and grey, the same word 

 serves for both. ; but yet it is absolutely certain that Celts 

 know these colours, as is proved by their capacity of dis- 

 ilnguishing between them, and of naming them as soon as 

 they learn a language in which each has a separate name. 

 It might as well be doubted that the sense of smell of the 

 whole human race is imperfect because it is ail but impos- 

 sible to describe smells, and that purely for lack of nomen- 

 clature. 



196 



