Buff'ori's Natural History. 27 



drawn mutually closer, which makes it necessary for one to 

 place his arm about the neck or waist of the other. The 

 position may be varied — that is, the ligament may be made 

 an axis, upon which the youths can turn and bring in contact 

 the two opposite sides, instead of those which were first in 

 collision. Their identity of purpose, and unity of movement, 

 combined with a general similarity of tastes, disposition and 

 habit, had created in some a suspicion that their organization 

 was more intimately connected than at first sight appears. 

 They eat, drink and sleep simultaneously 5 their health is 

 affected alike ; and, on being conveyed through the streets 

 in a coach, so perfect is their unity of action, that they could 

 not be prevailed upon to look out of its opposite windows. 

 These circumstances many have been disposed to attribute to 

 something more than the power of habit; but there can be 

 no doubt that the youths are perfectly distinct beings, having 

 each his organization totally independent of each other. This 

 is placed beyond a doubt by various circumstances. JNo one 

 can fail to be touched with the perfect harmony that subsists 

 between them. Attempts have been made to create jealous- 

 ies between them, but without the slightest eflfect. Any gift 

 Avhich they receive, capable of division, is shared between 

 them ; and any other description of present passes from one 

 to the other as a joint possession. It would perhaps be more 

 just to say, that they recognize no difference between them- 

 selves. A very attentive observer, however, will not fail to 

 discover between these two boys, who certainly bear the 

 strongest possible resemblance to each other, a marked dis- 

 tinction. One seems to be a little more robust than the other, 

 and even to possess an intellectual superiority over his broth- 

 er. Perhaps this notion acquires plausibility from the cir- 

 cumstance that the former generally acts as the organ of 

 communication on the joint part with the interpreters. It is 

 observed, that this superior brother yields on all occasions to 

 the impulses of the weaker, giving up his own choice, and 

 preferring the course intimated by the other. The inferior 

 brother then playfully leans against his mate for support, or 

 the one pats the cheek, or presses the forehead, or adjusts the 

 shirt collar of the other, in such away as betrays the kindliest 

 feelings in each, and the tenderest affection for each other.' 



We may hereafter make other extracts from this work of 

 equal interest with the preceding. 



