18681874] EXPRESSION 103 



utmost horror extreme pallor mouth relaxed and open Letter 468 

 general prostration perspiration muscle of face con- 

 tracted hair observed on account of having been dyed, 

 and apparently not erected. Secondly, may I quote you that 

 you have often (?) seen persons (young or old ? men or 

 women ?) who, evincing no great fear, were about to undergo 

 severe operation under chloroform, showing resignation by 

 (alternately ?) folding one open hand over the other on 

 the lower part of chest (whilst recumbent ?) I know 

 this expression, and think I ought to notice it. Could you 

 look out for an additional instance ? 



I fear you will think me very troublesome, especially 

 when I remind you (not that I am in a hurry) about the 

 Eustachian tube. 



To J. Jenner Weir. Letter 469 



Down, June I4th [1870]. 



As usual, I am going to beg for information. Can you tell 

 me whether any Fringillidae or Sylviadae erect their feathers 

 when frightened or enraged ? l I want to show that this 

 expression is common to all or most of the families of birds. 

 I know of this only in the fowl, swan, tropic-bird, owl, ruff 

 and reeve, and cuckoo. I fancy that I remember having seen 

 nestling birds erect their feathers greatly when looking into 

 nests, as is said to be the case with young cuckoos. I should 

 much like to know whether nestlings do really thus erect their 

 feathers. I am now at work on expression in animals of all 

 kinds, and birds ; and if you have any hints I should be very 

 glad for them, and you have a rich wealth of facts of all kinds. 

 Any cases like the following : the sheldrake pats or dances on 

 the tidal sands to make the sea-worms come out ; and when 

 Mr. St. John's tame sheldrakes came to ask for their dinners 

 they used to pat the ground, and this I should call an 

 expression of hunger and impatience. How about the 

 Quagga case ? 2 



I am working away as hard as I can on my book ; but 

 good heavens, how slow my progress is. 



1 See Expression of the Emotions, p. 99. 

 - See Letter 235, Vol. I. 



