eyes, mouth, and especially in the noftrils and jawbones, are remarkable varieties, concerning which I fhall fay nothing. I fhall here add fome remarks on the horfe, communicated by a friend.

The grey is the tendereft of horses, and we may here add, that people with light hair, if not effeminate, are yet, it is well known, of tender formation and conftitution. The chefnut and iron grey, the black, and bay, are hardy; the forrel are the most hardy, and yet the moft fubject to difeafe. The forrel, whether well or ill-formed, is treacherous. All treacherous horfes lay their ears in the neck. They ftare and stop, and lay down their ears alternately.

The following paffage, on the fame fubject, is cited from another writer: "When a horfe has broad, long, widely feparated, hanging ears, we are well affured he is bad and fluggish. If he lays down his ears alternately, he is fea: ful, and apt to start. Thin, pointed, and projecting ears, on the contrary, denote a horfe of good difpofition.'

We never find that the thick, hog-necked horfe is fufficiently tractable for the riding-house, or that he is of a strong nature when the tail shakes, like the tail of a dog. We may be certain, that a horfe with large cheerful eyes, and a fine fhining coat, if we have no other tokens, is of a good conftitution and understanding.

These remarks are equally applicable to oxen and fheep, and probably to all other animals. The white ox is not fo long ferviceable, for draught or labour, as the black or red: he is more weak and fickly than thefe. A fheep with fhort legs, ftrong neck, broad back, and cheerful eyes, is a good breeder, and remains peaceably with the flock. And I am of opinion, that if we may judge of the internal by the external of beafts, men may be judged of in the fame

manner.

CHAP.

Of Birds, Fishes, Serpents, and Infects.

Birds.

BIRDS, whether compared to each other, or to

other creatures, have their diftinct characters. The ftructure of birds throughout, is lighter than that of quadrupeds. Nature, ever ftedfaft to truth thus manifefts herself in the form of birds. Their necks are more pliant, their heads fmaller, their mouths more pointed, and their garb more bright and shining than thofe of quadrupeds.

Their diftinction of character, or gradation of paffive and active power, is expreffed by the following phyfiognomical varieties:

1. By the form of the fcull. The more flat the fcull, the more weak, flexible, tender, and fenfible is the character of the animal. This flatnefs contains lefs, and refifts lefs.

2. By the length, breadth, and arching, or obliquity of their beaks. And here again we find, when there is arching, there is a greater extent of docility and capacity.

3. By the eyes which appear to have an exact correfpondence with the arching of the beak.

4. Particularly by the middle line, I cannot fay of the month, but what is analagous to the mouth, the beak; the obliquity of which is ever in a remarkable proportion with the outline of the profile of the head.

Who can behold the eagle hovering in the air, the powerful lord of fo many creatures, without perceiv

ing

ing the feal, the native ftar of royalty in his piercing round eye, the form of his head, his ftrong wings, his talons of brass, and, in his whole form, his victorious ftrength, hiscontemptuous arrogance, his fear ful cruelty, and his ravenous propensity?

Confider the eyes of all living creatures, from the eagle to the mole; where else can be found that lightning glance, which defies the rays of the fun? Where that capacity for the reception of light? How truly, emphatically, to all who will hear and understand, is the majefty of his kingly character vifible, not alone in his burning eye, but in the outline of what is analagous to the eyebone, and in the fkin of the head, where anger and courage are feated? But, throughout his whole form, where are they not?

Compare the vulture with the eagle, and who does not obferve, in his lengthened neck and beak, and in his more extended form, less power and nobility than in the eagle? In the head of the owl, the ignoble greedy prey; in the dove, mild, humble timidity; and in the swan, more nobility than in the goofe, with lefs power than in the eagle, and tendernefs than in the dove; more pliability than in the oftrick; and, in the wild duck, a more favage animal than in the fwan, without the force of the eagle?

Fish.

How different is the profile of a fifh from that of a man! How much the reverfe of human perpendicularity! How little is there of countenance when compared to the lion! How vifible is the want of mind, reflection, and cunning; What little or no analogy to forehead! What an impoffibility of covering, of half, or entirely clofing the eyes? The

eye

eye itself is merely circular and prominent, has nothing of the lengthened form of the eye of the fox or elephant.

Serpents.

I will allow phyfiognomy, when applied to man to be a falfe fcience, if any being throughout nature can be discovered void of phyfiognomy, or a countenance which does not exprefs its character. What has lefs, yet more phyfiognomy than the ferpent? May we not perceive in it decifive tokens of cunning and treachery? Certainly not a trace of understanding or deliberate plan. No memory, no comprehenfion, but the most unbounded craft and falfehood. How are these reprobate qualities diftinguished in their forms? The very play of their colours, and wonderful meandering of their spots appear to announce and to warn us of their deceit.

All men poffeffed of real power are upright and honeft; craft is but the fubftitute of power. I do not here speak of the power contained in the folds of the ferpent; they all want the power to act immediately, without the aid of cunning. They are formed to "bruise the heel, and to have the head bruifed." The judgment which God has pronounced against them is written on their flat, impotent forehead, mouth, and eyes.

Infects.

How inexpreffibly various are the characteristics impreffed by the eternal Creator on all living beings! How has he ftamped on each its legible and peculiar properties! How efpecially vifible is this in the loweft claffes of animal lite! The world of infects

is

is a world of itself. The distance between this and the world of men I own is great; yet were it fufficiently known, how useful would it be to human phyfiognomy! What certain proofs of the phyfiognomy of men muft be obtained from infect phyfiognomy!

How vifible are their powers of deftruction, of fuffering and refifting, of fenfibility and infenfibility, through all their forms and gradations! Are not all the compact, hard-winged infects phyfiognomonically and characteristically more capable and retentive than various light and tender fpecies of the butterfly? Is not the fofteft flesh the weakest, the most fuffering, the eafieft to deftroy? Are not the infects of leaft brain the beings most removed from man, who has the moft brain? Is it not perceptible in each fpecies whether it be warlike, defenfive, enduring, weak, enjoying, deftructive, eafy to be crushed, or crufhing? How diftinct in the external charrêter are their degrees of strength, of defence, of ftinging, or of appetite.

The great dragon fly fhews its agility and swiftnefs in the ftructure of its wings; perpetually on flight in fearch of fmall flies. How fluggish, on the contrary, is the crawling caterpillar! How carefully does he fet this feet as he afcends a leaf! How yielding his fubftance, incapable of refiftance! How peaceable, harmless, and indolent is the moth! How full of motion, bravery, and hardinefs, is the induAtrious ant! How loath to remove, on the contrary, is the harneffed lady-bird !

CHAP.