REFLECTED ACTION. 37 



us to see the statue. The expression of the passive 

 features in man is reflected action; so all expres- 

 sion by colour and pigmentation, form and propor- 

 tions. Eeflected action is not per se an indication 

 of vitality or nutrition. When in an animal move- 

 ment occurs as the result of some mechanical irrita- 

 tion, as tickling, the afferent mechanical agency 

 produces a change upon the sensory surface which 

 causes a stimulus to pass to the nerve-centre, from 

 which an efferent motor-current then proceeds to 

 the muscles, producing movement. Such movement 

 is called reflex action, or reflex movement, in distinc- 

 tion from the case of the statue, where there is no 

 change or movement in the subject, which is pas- 

 sive, all expression being an offcome, not an " out- 

 come;" the objective cause of expression is the 

 reflected afferent force. 



Expression may be effected by colour, or any 

 other mode of objective outcome or offcome pass- 

 ing from the subject of expression to the observer. 

 Conditions of colour are often expressive. The 

 colour of minerals often expresses their properties ; 

 the colour of parts of plants is often very constant 

 and uniform, enabling this character to be used in 

 some degree, as a sign by which an individual may 

 be recognized and classed. The special hereditary 

 characters and breed of many animals are often ex- 

 pressed by conditions of coloration, striping, spots, 

 etc. Light complexion of face, light hair, etc., are 

 expressive of race and climate, equally with dark 

 pigmentation and olive complexion. In point of 

 degree of value as signs, there is no doubt that 



