ALBINOS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 137, 6 December 1929, Page 3

ALBINOS

In lieu of a better, the world has adopted the word "albino," which was applied a century or more ago by Portuguese traders to the "white negroes" on the West African coast. Pure albinism, the "absolute zero point" of lack of pigmentation, is relatively easy to identify and to account for superficially. But whore do we draw the line and begin to apply the word! Prolonged absence from sunlight produces in many animals a temporary bleaching. They often regain the loss upon emerging into daylight. In those winter changes undergone by the varying hare, common weasel, and ptarmigan grouse, although they retain their invaluable dark eyes, we havo a decolourising process which in a certain sense is albinism. The out-and-out albino sees poorly in bright daylight; trustworthy eyesight is a necessity for such animals, especially in winter. The polar bear has no pigment in his fur. There is a certain kind of rabbit whose eyes are pink and fur white, except on ear-tips, tail, and feet. How is he to be classed? When humans are albinos they always possess a peculiarly rough skin, and, as in animals no pigmentation exists internally throughout the nervous system.

The world's largest lock will shortly be opened for use o^ the ship canal between Ymuidam and Amsterdam. It is 1312 feet long by 164 feet wide. This is larger than the Panama Canal locks, which are 1000 feet in length and 110 feet in width.