364: CONCLUDING REMARKS Chap. XIV. 



pressions. If man had breathed water by the aid of ex- 

 ternal branchiae (though the idea is hardly conceivable), 

 instead of air through his mouth and nostrils, his fea- 

 tures would not have expressed his feelings much more 

 efficiently than now do his hands or limbs. Eage and 

 disgust, however, would still have been shown by move- 

 ments about the lips and mouth, and the eyes would 

 have become brighter or duller according to the state 

 of the circulation. If our ears had remained movable, 

 their movements would have been highly expressive, as 

 is the case with all the animals which fight with their 

 teeth; and we may infer that our early progenitors thus 

 fought, as we still uncover the canine tooth on one side 

 when we sneer at or defy any one, and we uncover all 

 our teeth when furiously enraged. 



The movements of expression in the face and body, 

 whatever their origin may have been, are in themselves 

 of much importance for our welfare. They serve as the 

 first means of communication between the mother and 

 her infant; she smiles approval, and thus encourages 

 her child on the right path, or frowns disapproval. We 

 readily perceive sympathy in others by their expression; 

 our sufferings are thus mitigated and our pleasures in- 

 creased; and mutual good feeling is thus strengthened. 

 The movements of expression give vividness and energy 

 to our spoken words. They reveal the thoughts and 

 intentions of others more truly than do words, which 

 may be falsified. Whatever amount of truth the so-called 

 science of physiognomy may contain, appears to depend, 

 as Haller long ago remarked, 4 on different persons bring- 

 ing into frequent use different. facial muscles, according 



4 Quoted by Moreau, in his edition of Lavater, 1820, torn. 

 iv. p. 211. 



