The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Complete


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st. The pupil of the eye contracts, in proportion to the increase  
of light which is reflected in it. 2nd. The pupil of the eye expands  
in proportion to the diminution in the day light, or any other  
light, that is reflected in it. 3rd. [Footnote: 8. The subject of  
this third proposition we find fully discussed in MS. G. 44a.]. The  
eye perceives and recognises the objects of its vision with greater  
intensity in proportion as the pupil is more widely dilated; and  
this can be proved by the case of nocturnal animals, such as cats,  
and certain birds--as the owl and others--in which the pupil varies  
in a high degree from large to small, &c., when in the dark or in  
the light. 4th. The eye [out of doors] in an illuminated atmosphere  
sees darkness behind the windows of houses which [nevertheless] are  
light. 5th. All colours when placed in the shade appear of an equal  
degree of darkness, among themselves. 6th. But all colours when  
placed in a full light, never vary from their true and essential  
hue.  
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5.  
OF THE EYE.  
Focus of sight.  
If the eye is required to look at an object placed too near to it,  
it cannot judge of it well--as happens to a man who tries to see the  
tip of his nose. Hence, as a general rule, Nature teaches us that an  
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Page
37 38 39 40 41

Quick Jump
1 306 613 919 1225