EXPRESSION. 6 1 



disdain is indicated by the raising of a portion of 

 the upper lip ; and the expression once originated 

 can be exaggerated by the drawing up of the lower 

 lip and the chin by the levator menti, while the 

 angles of the mouth are actually pulled down, so as 

 to give it the appearance of being held down at the 

 ends while an effort is made to pull it up from 

 the surroundings which hold it. 



In the allied expression of disgust, the levator 

 menti takes no part, while the depressors of the 

 lower lip are more strongly contracted, because 

 the idea is no longer to keep away from the 

 objectionable notion, but to get rid of the foul 

 thing which has already entered. The same 

 muscles come into play in getting rid of a bad 

 taste ; and language, travelling in a similar line 

 to expression by feature, signifies the alliance 

 by the word disgust. Darwin also, quoting Piderit, 

 draws attention to the action of the nose, which 

 gives the idea of getting rid of an offensive odour ; 

 but I think these writers are mistaken in imputing 

 to the upper lip an action "so as to close the 

 nostrils as by a valve." The upper lip is incapable 

 of shutting the nostrils, and is not used in any 

 animal for that purpose ; and what we really do, in 

 an unrestrained expression of disgust, is to raise and 

 distend the nostrils, as if to give egress to an objec- 



