1868-187 »] 1 CPRESSION 103 



utmost horror — extreme pallor — mouth relaxed and open Utter 

 — genera] prostration — perspiration — mu cle of face con- 

 tracted-hair observed on account of having been dyed, 

 and apparently not erected. Secondly, may I quote you that 

 you have often (?) seen persons (young or old ? men or 

 women ?) who, evincing no great fear, were about to unde 

 severe operation under chloroform, showing resignation by 

 (alternately ?) folding one open hand over the other on 

 the lower part of chest (whilst recumbent?)—! know 

 this expression, and think I ought to notice it. Could you 

 look out for an additional instance ? 



I fear you will think me very troublesome, especially 

 when I remind you (not that 1 am in a hurry) about the 

 Eustachian tube. 



To J. Jenner Weir. Letter 469 



1 I iwn, June 14th [1S70]. 



As usual, I am going to beg for information. Can you tell 



me whether any Fringillidae or Sylviadae erect their feathers 



when frightened or enraged ? l I want to show that this 



expression is common to all or most of the families of birds. 



I know of this only in the fowl, swan, tropic-bird, owl, ruff 



and reeve, and cuckoo. 1 fancy that 1 remember having seen 



nestling birds erect their feathers greatly when looking into 



nests, as is said to be the case with young cuckoos. I should 



much like to know whether nestlings do really thus erect their 



feathers. I am now at work on expression in animals of all 



kinds, and birds ; and if you have any hints I should be very 



glad for them, and you have a rich wealth (4 facts of all kind-. 



Any cases like the following : the sheldrake pats or dances on 



the tidal sands to make the sea-worms come out ; and when 



Mr. St. John's tame sheldrakes came to ask for their dinners 



they used to pat the ground, and this I should call an 



expression of hunger and impatience. How about the 



Quagga case ? - 



I am working away as hard as I can on my book ; but 

 good heavens, how slow my progress is. 



1 See Expression of the Emotions, p. 99. 



s See Letter 235, Vol. I. 



