256 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



When wc contrast the expression of the emotions of 

 affection and anger it is clearly evident that they are 

 in direct opposition to each other. Compare the 

 supple trunk, the elevated ears, the dilated eyes, the 

 sheathed claws and the happy countenance of affection 

 with the rigid body, the depressed ears, the half-closed 

 eyes, the projecting claws and the fierce and pinched 

 expression of anger. All these characteristics associated 

 with anger are, to a greater or less extent, of some 

 service to the animal if it be considered that its anger 

 is directed towards some other animal which it is about 

 to attack ; and in its native haunts there can be no 

 other cause which so frequently and acutely excites its 

 anger. But on the other hand it does not seem possible 

 to detect any serviceable asset in the opposed expres- 

 sions associated with affection. They can only be 

 explained on the Principle of Antithesis as advanced 

 by Darwin, which states that any action or series of 

 actions which have for long periods of time been 

 directly associated with any sensation or emotion will 

 be immediately suppressed under emotions of a directly 

 opposing nature, and that an antagonistic set of muscles 

 will be brought into play so as to produce an opposite 

 action or series of actions, though they may be of no 

 use. 



During play the animal may assume almost any 

 posture. It may roll on its back on the ground and 

 wave its paws in the air and with sheathed claws 

 endeavour to grasp the object with which it is playing. 

 It may spring towards its playmate and leap upon 

 him. It may seize him between its teeth, but will 

 never injure him or express in its attitude or coun- 

 tenance any desire to do so. In its play it often 



