18681874] EXPRESSION 101 



very curious case of the spasms 1 that in all these cases the Letter 465 

 orbicular muscles are strongly and unconsciously contracted, 

 and that at the same time tears often certainly flow, I must 

 think that there is a connection of some kind between these 

 phenomena ; but you have clearly shown me that the nature 

 of the relation is at present quite obscure. 



To A. D. Bartlett. Letter 466 



6, Queen Anne Street, W., Dec. iQth [1870 ?]. 



I was with Mr. Wood this morning, and he expressed 

 himself strongly about your and your daughter's kindness in 

 aiding him. He much wants assistance on another point ; 

 and if you would aid him, you would greatly oblige me. 

 You know well the appearance of a dog when approaching 

 another dog with hostile intentions, before they come close 

 together. The dog walks very stiffly, with tail rigid and 

 upright, hair on back erected, ears pointed and eyes directed 

 forwards. When the dog attacks the other, down go the 

 ears, and the canines are uncovered. Now, could you any- 

 how arrange so that one of your dogs could see a strange 

 dog from a little distance, so that Mr. Wood 2 could sketch 

 the former attitude, viz., of the stiff gesture with erected hair 

 and erected ears. And then he could afterwards sketch the 

 same dog, when fondled by his master and wagging his tail 

 with drooping ears. ^ These two sketches I want much, and 

 it would be a great favour to Mr. Wood, and myself, if you 

 could aid him. 



P.S. When a horse is turned out into a field he trots 

 with high, elastic steps, and carries his tail aloft. Even when 

 a cow frisks about she throws up her tail. I have seen a 

 drawing of an elephant, apparently trotting with high steps, 

 and with the tail erect. When the elephants in the garden 

 are turned out and are excited so as to move quickly, do they 



1 In some cases a slight touch to the eye causes spasms of the 

 orbicularis muscle, which may continue for so long as an hour, being 

 accompanied by a flow of tears. See Expression of the Emotions, p. 166. 



2 In Chapter II. of the Expression of the Emotions there are sketches 

 of dogs in illustration of the " Principle of Antithesis," drawn by Mr. 

 Riviere and by Mr. A. May (figs. 5-8). Mr. T. VV. Wood supplied 

 similar drawings of a cat (rigs. 9, 10), also a sketch of the head of a 

 snarling dog (fig. 14). 



