104: MEANS OF EXPRESSION Chap. IV. 



reason to believe that the will is able to influence in an 

 obscure manner the action of some unstriped or involun- 

 tary muscles, as in the period of the peristaltic move- 

 ments of the intestines, and in the contraction of the 

 bladder. Nor must we overlook the part which varia- 

 tion and natural selection may have played; for the 

 males which succeeded in making themselves appear the 

 most terrible to their rivals, or to their other enemies, 

 if not of overwhelming power, will on an average have 

 left more offspring to inherit their characteristic quali- 

 ties, whatever these may be and however first acquired, 

 than have other males. 



The inflation of the body, and other means of excit- 

 ing fear in an enemy. — Certain Amphibians and Rep- 

 tiles, which either have no spines to erect, or no muscles 

 by which they can be erected, enlarge themselves when 

 alarmed or angry by inhaling air. This is well known 

 to be the case with toads and frogs. The latter animal 

 is made, in iEsop's fable of the ( Ox and the Frog/ to 

 blow itself up from vanity and envy until it burst. This 

 action must have been observed during the most ancient 

 times, as, according to Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood, 21 the 

 word toad expresses in all the languages of Europe the 

 habit of swelling. It has been observed with some of the 

 exotic species in the Zoological Gardens; and Dr. Giin- 

 ther believes that it is general throughout the group. 

 Judging from analogy, the primary purpose probably 

 was to make the body appear as large and frightful as 

 possible to an enemy; but another, and perhaps more im- 

 portant secondary advantage is thus gained. When frogs 

 are seized by snakes, which are their chief enemies, they 

 enlarge themselves wonderfully; so that if the snake be 

 of small size, as Dr. Gtinther informs me, it cannot swal- 

 low the frog, which thus escapes being devoured. 



21 



' Dictionary of English Etymology,' p. 403. 



