Chap II. THE PRINCIPLE OF ANTITHESIS. 63 



opposition to other movements, naturally assumed under 

 an opposite frame of mind, is that of shrugging the 

 shoulders. This expresses impotence or an apology, — 

 something which cannot be done, or cannot be avoided. 

 The gesture is sometimes used consciously and volun- 

 tarily, but it is extremely improbable that it was at first 

 deliberately invented, and afterwards fixed by habit; 

 for not only do young children sometimes shrug their 

 shoulders under the above states of mind, but the move- 

 ment is accompanied, as will be shown in a future chap- 

 ter, bv various subordinate movements, which not one 

 man in a thousand is aware of, unless he has specially 

 attended to the subject. 



Dogs when approaching a strange dog, may find it 

 useful to show by their movements that they are friendly, 

 and do not wish to fight. When two young dogs in 

 play are growling and biting each other's faces and legs, 

 it is obvious that they mutually understand each other's 

 gestures and manners. There seems, indeed, some de- 

 gree of instinctive knowledge in puppies and kittens, that 

 they must not use their sharp little teeth or claws too 

 freely in their play, though this sometimes happens and 

 a squeal is the result; otherwise they would often injure 

 each other's eyes. When my terrier bites my hand in 

 play, often snarling at the same time, if he bites too 

 hard and I say gently, gently, he goes on biting, but 

 answers me by a few wags of the tail, which seems to 

 say " Xever mind, it is all fun." Although dogs do thus 

 express, and may wish to express, to other dogs and to 

 man, that thev are in a friendlv state of mind, it is in- 

 credible that they could ever have deliberately thought 

 of drawing back and depressing their ears, instead of 

 holding them erect, — of lowering and wagging their 

 tails, instead of keeping them stiff and upright, &c, 

 because thev knew that these movements stood in direct 



