144 SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS: Chap. V. 



mankind hardly any expression is more general than a 

 widely open month under the sense of astonishment. 

 As far as I have been able to observe, monkeys breathe 

 more freely through their nostrils than men do; and 

 this may account for their not opening their mouths 

 when they are astonished; for, as we shall see in a future 

 chapter, man apparently acts in this manner when 

 startled, at first for the sake of quickly drawing a full 

 inspiration, and afterwards for the sake of breathing 

 as quietly as possible. 



Terror is expressed by many kinds of monkeys by 

 the utterance of shrill screams; the lips being drawn 

 back, so that the teeth are exposed. The hair becomes 

 erect, especially when some anger is likewise felt. Mr. 

 Sutton has distinctly seen the face of the Macacus rhesus 

 grow pale from fear. Monkeys also tremble from fear; 

 and sometimes they void their excretions. I have seen 

 one which, when caught, almost fainted from an excess 

 of terror. 



Sufficient facts have now been given with respect to 

 the expressions of various animals. It is impossible to 

 agree with Sir C. Bell when he says 22 that " the faces 

 of animals seem chiefly capable of expressing rage and 

 fear; " and again, when he says that all their expressions 

 " may be referred, more or less plainly, to their acts of 

 volition or necessary instincts." He who will look at a 

 dog preparing to attack another dog or a man, and at 

 the same animal when caressing his master, or will watch 

 the countenance of a monkey when insulted, and when 

 fondled by his keeper, will be forced to admit that the 

 movements of their features and their gestures are almost 

 as expressive as those of man. Although no explanation 



22 



' Anatomy of Expression,' 3rd edit. 1844, pp. 138, 121. 



