Chap. II. THE PRINCIPLE OF ANTITHESIS. 51 



ears are directed forwards, and the eves have a fixed 

 stare: (see figs. 5 and T). These actions, as will hereafter 

 be explained, follow from the dog's intention to attack 

 his enemy, and are thus to a large extent intelligible. 

 As he prepares to spring with a savage growl on his 

 enemy, the canine teeth are uncovered, and the ears are 

 pressed close backwards on the head; but with these 

 latter actions, we are not here concerned. Let us now- 

 suppose that the dog suddenly discovers that the man he 

 is approaching, is not a stranger, but his master; and let 

 it be observed how completely and instantaneously his 

 whole bearing is reversed. Instead of walking up- 

 right, the body sinks downwards or even crouches, and 

 is thrown into flexuous movements; his tail, instead of 

 being held stiff and upright, is lowered and wagged from 

 side to side; his hair instantly becomes smooth; his 

 ears are depressed and drawn backwards, but not closely 

 to the head; and his lips hang loosely. From the draw- 

 ing back of the ears, the eyelids become elongated, and 

 the eyes no longer appear round and staring. It should 

 be added that the animal is at such times in an excited 

 condition from joy; and nerve-force will be generated 

 in excess, which naturally leads to action of some kind. 

 Xot one of the above movements, so clearly expressive 

 of affection, are of the least direct service to the animal. 

 They are explicable, as far as I can see, solely from being 

 in complete opposition or antithesis to the attitude and 

 movements which, from intelligible causes, are assumed 

 when a dog intends to fight, and which consequently 

 are expressive of anger. I request the reader to look 

 at the four accompanying sketches, which have been 

 given in order to recall vividly the appearance of a dog 

 under these two states of mind. It is, however, not a 

 little difficult to represent affection in a dog, whilst ca- 

 ressing his master and wagdng his tail, as the essence of 



