among physicians, the temperament, habitude, and natural disposition, of the body; but more often the colour of the face and skin.

Few questions in philosophy have engaged the attention of naturalists more than the diversities among the human species, among which that of colour is the most remarkable. The great differences in this respect have given occasion to several authors to assert, that the whole human race have not sprung from one original; but that as many different species of men were at first created, as there are now different colours to be found among them. Under the article AMERICA, n° 81—100, we have shown that all the arguments which can be brought for specific differences among mankind, whether drawn from a difference of colour, stature, or disposition, must necessarily be inconclusive. It remains, however, a matter of no small difficulty to account for the remarkable variations of colour that are to be found among different nations. On this subject Dr Hunter hath published a thesis, in which he considers the matter more accurately than hath commonly been done, and determines absolutely against any specific difference among mankind. He introduces his subject by observing, that when the question has been agitated, whether all the human race constitute only one species or not, much confusion has arisen from the sense in which the term species has been adopted. He therefore thinks it necessary to set out with a definition of the term. He includes under the same species all those animals which produce issue capable of propagating others resembling the original stock from whence they sprung. This definition he illustrates by having recourse to the human species as an example. And in this sense of the term he concludes, that all of them are to be considered as belonging to the same species. And as, in the case of plants, one species comprehends several varieties depending upon climate, soil, culture, and similar accidents; so he considers the diversities of the human race to be merely varieties of the same species, produced by natural causes. Of the different colours observable among mankind, he gives the following view:

BLACK. Africans under the line. Inhabitants of New Guinea. Inhabitants of New Holland.

SWARTHY. The Moors in the northern parts of Africa. The Hottentots in the southern parts of it.

COPPER-COLOURED. The East Indians.