The rarity of the latter is accounted for by regarding this peculiar appearance as the result of albinism; and notwithstanding the exaggeration of Oriental historians, who compare the fairness of such creatures to the whiteness of snow, even in its utmost perfection, I apprehend that the tint of a white elephant is little else than a flesh-colour, rendered somewhat more conspicuous by the blanching of the skin, and the lightness of the colourless hairs by which it is sparsely covered.
"Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon"
J. Emerson Tennent
Retinitis pigmentosa in known to be strongly inheritable, as is albinism and congenital cataract.
"Consanguineous Marriages in the American Population"
George B. Louis Arner
albinism is not uncommon in the blackbird; I have seen two partial instances lately; one was constantly visible in my garden and meadows, with head nearly all white, and the other I saw in the public garden at Bournemouth, with the peculiarity still more developed.
"Grain and Chaff from an English Manor"
Arthur H. Savory