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and broader at

each side. In this band originates pectoral, and abdominal fins, all of which are of the same brown hue with it.

the first dorsal,

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4. A white band. The pectoral fin overlaps this band a considerable way, and by the contrast of colour it becomes very conspicuous.

5. A broad brown band. In this band are placed both the last dorsal, and the anal fins, which are of the same colour.

6. A white band.

7. A brown band, which constitutes the tail.

Thus it happens that all the fins of this fish are of the same brown colour, unless it be the very nar row part of the dorsal fin, which crofses a white band which seems to consist of fifteen rays.

The circumstance that tends most particularly to characterise it from all others I have seen, is its double gills; one set of these forms the undermost edge of the brown head, the open being exactly in the black line that forms the fore part of the first white bar; and the second set of gills are placed precisely on the edge of the black line which defines the other margin of the same bar. This renders it extremely difficult to represent them in the drawing; but they are plainly perceptible in the specimen itself, on being put into certain positions. The whole body is covered with an immense number of scales disposed checker-wise: but they are so small as to require a glafs to observe them distinctly.

The drawing is the size of life. The gentleman. in whose pofsefsion it is, has some others of the same

kind of a still smaller size, which differ in no other

respect from this specimen.

A better idea can be formed of this fish from the drawing, than any description could convey.

THE

ON THE VARIETIES OF MEN.

For the Bee.

"The proper study of mankind is man.'

Lucubrations of Ascanius.

HE most striking varieties among men colour, language, and permanent habits.

Colour.

are in

There is such a variety, in the form, features, and complexions of the human race, that many people are of opinion that all mankind cannot be originally descended from the same parents. But notwithstanding the restlefs curiosity that agitates inquisitive spirits, there is a certain laziness of mind that often inclines people to be satisfied with what seems to be the easiest solution of their doubts, rather than to take the trouble of searching farther to find the true cause of things: and this seems to me to be the case in the present question relating to the diversity of colour.

Now, without entering into the physical disquisition concerning the nigrification of the rete mucosa in blacks, by the effects of constant heat upon animal oils, and the position of black nations, where that

constant heat and the trade winds fhould naturally produce them, I think that to examine this question properly we may divide it into two parts.

The first is the difference of complexion; the other is the different cast of features and composition of parts, observable even in neighbouring nations; but so great betwixt nations remote from each other, that they do not appear to have any relation together.

The most remarkable difference among mankind is the distinction into black and white people; and if it can be sufficiently demonstrated, that the cause of this complexion does not exceed the ordinary powers of nature, it will be easier to account. for the different fhades of complexion, and all other lefs remarkable varieties in the human species. What we call white people are generally towards the poles, and the darker complexions towards the equator; and this alone would have served as a solution to the question, " that the black complexion proceeded from the continued action of the vertical sun:" But we see some nations white in lower latitudes, than others where the people are black, which occasions the doubt.

But we ought to consider that the heat of the sun is far from depending entirely upon the latitude. Experience fhews that the course of moun◄ tains, rivers, and winds, often make high latitudes warmer, and low latitudes cooler. The nature of the vegetables, and the exhalations from mineral. substances most frequent on the soil, must also have great influence on the human body, and particular

ly upon the external parts. The food, too, and the whole manner of living, may have very great influence, especially in the process of ages.

There are in the island of Grand Canary, seven or eight families descended from the first conquerors, who were mostly Frenchmen; they look on themselves as greatly superior to the other inhabitants, so that they will intermarry only among themselves, and so produce a race to succeed to the indolence and luxury of their forefathers. The consequence of this has been, that the fair complexion, and active valour of their original French forefathers are, in them, no longer to be discovered.

They have dwindled in their size, their features are liker monkeys than men, and, what is pointedly to our purpose, are considerably blacker than the rest of the natives.

They have even so far forgotten their original, that they look on their blacknefs as a mark of their nobility, and an honourable distinction that elevates them above the rest of the inhabitants.

I have seen and eaten of a sort of poultry, in every thing resembling the kind that is common mong us, only their fkin was black.

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I saw another sort whose bones only were black. According to the supposition that nations of different colours must proceed from different originals, we ought to think that these were of a different species from our common poultry and from one another.

Perhaps I also might have remained of that opinion, if I had not me with another sort of poultry, whose only distinguishing mark was, that their

bones were all as red as blood.

But the last ser

ved as a key to the rest,-when poultry are fed on caravances their bones become red.

Though the caravances are not red, they deposit a sertain juice in the bones that tinges them with that colour, without affecting the other parts in any. degree. I therefore entertained no doubt that the appearances in the other individuals proceeded from a tinging cause of a similar nature. Now there can be no conclusive reason afsigned why various vegetables and mineral impregnations, or the diet and manner of living, may not affect the human body in a similar manner.

Sow the seed of a red tulip and you will have a number of red tulips; but in a few years the red colour will break into a variety of tinctures, and perhaps no two flowers exactly alike.

Could we outlive as many generations of men as we do of tulips, we should probably see the same thing in the humán species, and would then wonder as little at the change of colour, as we now do at the difference of the colour of hair.

The change happens on flowers sprung from the same parent, sown in the same garden, warmed by the same degree of heat, washed with the same fhowers, and fed with the same nourishment. How then can we wonder that the same fhould happen to human kind who breathe a different air, in climates remote from one another, and frequently quite different in their food and way of life.

Almost every person who goes to a country different from that in which he was accustomed to live,

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