CARNIVOROUS QUADRUPEDS. 7 



an opposite theory, in which instinctive agency is rejected, and the appearances are explained from 

 a consideration of the necessities and voluntary exertions of the animal. With regard to the 

 observer, it has been asserted, that it is by experience alone that he distinguishes the signs of the 

 passions ; that we learn, while infants, to consider smiles as expressions of kindness, because they 

 are accompanied by acts of beneficence and by endearments ; and frowns as the contrary, because 

 we find them followed by blows ; that the expression of anger in a brute, is only that which has 

 been observed to precede his biting- and that of fondness, his fawning and licking of the hand. 

 With regard to the creature itself, it is said, what has been called the external signs of passion, are 

 merely the concomitants of those voluntary movements, which the passions or habits suggest ; that 

 the glare of the Lion's eye, for example, is the consequence of a voluntary exertion to see his prey 

 more clearly his grin, or snarl, the natural motion of uncasing his fang-s before he uses them. 

 This, however, is not quite true of all animals and of all expression of passion." 



"Attending merely to the evidence furnished by anatomical investigation, all that I shall 

 venture to affirm is this : that a remarkable difference is to be found between the anatomy and 

 range of expression, in man and in animals : that in the former there seems to be a systematic 

 provision for that mode of communication and that natural language, which is to be read in the 

 changes of the countenance : that there is no emotion in the mind of man which has not its 

 appropriate signs ; and that there are even muscles in the human face to which no other use can be 

 assigned than to serve as the organs of this language : that, on the other hand, there is in the lower 

 animals no range of expression which is not fairly referable as a mere accessary to the voluntary 

 or needful actions of the animal ; and that this accessary expression does not appear to be in any 

 degree commensurate to the variety and extent of the animal's passions." 



" There appears to me (continues MR. BELL) to be no expression in the face of any animal 

 lower in the scale of being than quadrupeds ; and in them the strongest and most marked 

 expression is that of rage ; the object of which is opposition, resistance, and defence. But on 

 examination it will be found (consistently with the position, that this is merely an accessary of 

 the motions natural to the accomplishment of the object which the animal has in view) that the 

 strength of the expression is in exact proportion to the strength of the principal action in the 

 creature when thus excited. 



" The gramnivorous animals, which seek their subsistence, not by preying upon others, nor by 

 the ferocity, contest, and victory which supply the carnivorous with food, have in their features no 

 strong expression of rage. Their expression is chiefly confined indeed to the effect produced on the 

 general system. Thus the inflamed eye and the breathing nostrils of the Bull, are induced only 

 by the general excitement. His only proper expression of rage, is in the position of the head, 

 with the horns turned obliquely to the ground, ready to strike : and indeed it may be observed 

 in general that animals which strike with the horns, shew little indication of fear or rage, except in 



