278 WORK ON ' man; ^ [1868. 



an essay on man, it flashed on me that I could work in some 

 ** supplemental remarks on expression." After the horrid, 

 tedious, dull work of my present huge, and I fear unreadable, 

 book ['The Variation of Animals and Plants'], I thought I 

 would amuse myself with my hobby-horse. The subject is, 

 I think, more curious and more amenable to scientific treat- 

 ment than you seem willing to allow. I want, anyhow, to 

 upset Sir C. Bell's view, given in his most interesting work, 

 ' The Anatomy of Expression,' that certain muscles have 

 been given to man solely that he may reveal to other men 

 his feelings. I want to try and show how expressions have 

 arisen. That is a good suggestion about newspapers, but my 

 experience tells me that private applications are generally 

 most fruitful. I will, however, see if I can get the queries 

 inserted in some Indian paper. I do not know the names or 

 addresses of any other papers. 



. . . My two female amanuenses are busy with friends, and 

 I fear this scrawl will give you much trouble to read. With 



many thanks. 



Yours very sincerely, 



Ch. Darwin. 



[The following letter may be worth giving, as an example 

 of his sources of information, and as showing what were the 

 thoughts at this time occupying him :] 



C. Darwin to F. Miillei'. 



Down, P'ebruary 22 [1867]. 



. . . Many thanks for all the curious facts about the un- 

 equal number of the sexes in Crustacea, but the more I in- 

 vestigate this subject the deeper I sink in doubt and difficulty. 

 Thanks also for the confirmation of the rivalry of Cicadse. I 

 have often reflected with surprise on the diversity of the means 

 for producing music with insects, and still more with birds. 

 We thus get a high idea of the importance of song in the ani- 

 mal kingdom. Please to tell me where I can find any account 

 of the auditory organs in the Orthoptera. .Your facts are 



