INTRODUCTION. 15 



tain whether the same expressions and gestures prevail, 

 as has often been asserted without much evidence, with 

 all the races of mankind, especially with those who have 

 associated but little with Europeans. Whenever the 

 same movements of the features or body express the 

 same emotions in several distinct races of man, we may 

 infer with much probability, that such expressions are 

 true ones, — that is, are innate or instinctive. Con- 

 ventional expressions or gestures, acquired by the in- 

 dividual during early life, would probably have dif- 

 fered in the different races, in the same manner as do 

 their languages. Accordingly I circulated, early in the 

 year 1867, the following printed queries with a request, 

 which has been fully responded to, that actual observa- 

 tions, and not memory, might be trusted. These queries 

 were written after a considerable interval of time, dur- 

 ing which my attention had been otherwise directed, 

 and I can now see that they might have been greatly 

 improved. To some of the later copies, I appended, 

 in manuscript, a few additional remarks: — 



(1.) Is astonishment expressed by the eyes and mouth 

 being opened wide, and by the eyebrows being 

 raised? 



(2.) Does shame excite a blush when the colour of the 

 skin allows it to be visible? and especially how 

 low down the body does the blush extend? 



(3.) When a man is indignant or defiant does he frown, 

 hold his body and head erect, square his shoulders 

 and clench his fists? 



(4.) When considering deeply on any subject, or trying 

 to understand any puzzle, does he frown, or 

 wrinkle the skin beneath the lower eyelids? 



(5.) When in low spirits, are the corners of the mouth 

 depressed, and the inner corner of the eyebrows 

 raised by that muscle which the French call the 

 " Grief muscle " ? The eyebrow in this state be- 

 comes slightly oblique, with a little swelling at 

 the inner end; and the forehead is transversely 

 wrinkled in the middle part, but not across the 

 whole breadth, as when the eyebrows are raised 

 in surprise. 



