C 1,1 ] 
fcraped off from the outer Lamella , by which botli 
irs Surfaces will become more nighly of the fame 
black Colour: From whence the Cuticle would appear 
to confift of, or be compofed of, many different 
Lamella-, and thofe of different Colours, fo that the 
external one only is black ; which Blacknefs is eafily 
fcraped off from the Membranes, by any thing that 
will abrade the Fibrillar but it is not to be removed 
by only foaking or wringing out the Cuticle in any 
common Menflrmm , which might diffolve and extract 
any Juices in it; from whence, by the by, this Black- 
nefs would appear to proceed from thefe Fibrilla and 
Scales, and not from any Juices. Bur, as thefe minute 
nervous Fibrilla are difhibuted thro’ and all over the 
other coarfer Membranes, fo they very eafily render 
them black, by infinuating themfelves into their 
Interftices ( a ). 
Under the Epidermis of Negroes, when feparated 
in a living Subject, by Bliftering, appears, as it were, 
a third Membrane between That and the Cutis vera : 
This is the Corpus reticulare Malpighii, which dif- 
fers from the fame Part in white People in two Re- 
fpedts j for, in Negroes, it is of a black Colour all 
over the Body, where they appear black ; and whereas, 
in white People, it is of a foft, pappy, or mucous 
Subftancc, and can hardly be feparated but in pappy 
Flakes, in Blacks it is feparated very often, by the 
Force of Epifpaftics, from both Skin and Cuticle, and 
may often be peeled off, like a Membrane, from the 
Cutis , as the Epidermis is from it 5 whilft in other 
{a) Vide Newton. Opt. p. 222, Edit. Latin. 
P 
Places, 
