298 
especially if they used the hands for that purpose and for no 
other. That such an idea is not unreasonable anyone may 
know by the difficulty experienced in unclasping the hands after 
having subjected them to severe muscular strain in a clasping 
position; and, further, Darwin tells us that certain species 
of monkeys, from habitually using their hands as hanging 
hooks, have developed hands in which the hook-like form 
is permanent—the fingers have partially grown together, or in 
some species the thumb is absent.* 
SomE FURTHER CHARACTERS OF CHILDREN. 
I may in this connection notice some other characters of 
infants and children. When, after birth, infants are placed on 
the knee they have an instinctive dread of falling, and will cling 
on to the arm or anything with a very strong grip.t Later, 
when carried on the arm they will, apparently quite unneces- 
sarily, support themselves by grasping, preferably, the mother’s 
hair; they take a great delight in clutching their father’s 
beard, and, in fact, anything of a furry nature. Several 
observers state that monkeys hang on to the mother’s hair to 
be carried about; and this may also explain the pleasure which 
children take in being ridden pick-a-back. The delight a baby 
feels in getting its clothes off—the joy of babies and children 
at being tossed in the air or jumped about—their pleasure in 
coming downstairs head-first—the fear of even small babies for 
strangerst—the fondness of children for noise—their liking 
* Darwin, ‘‘ Descent of Man,” 2nd Ed., p. 51. 
+ This happens even when first washed—about an hour after birth. My wife 
has many times remarked to me that the baby could grip her hard enough to be 
painful—this would be at about ten days old. 
t The power to recognise strangers is exhibited in babies very early indeed ; 
and they are generally frightened at them. They express their fright by a 
scream, and by trying to turn away. It may be noted that the infant’s scream 
of fright or of pain is very shrill and entirely different to the ordinary cry or yell 
when it requires food or wants to be nursed. Infants also possess another cry— 
a sort of cooing noise of pleasure ; but this is not developed so early. 
