446 OF MANHOOD. 



and the intervals are nearly equal both in their 

 duration and their diftance. The plaintive fhriek 

 is a groan exprelTed with force, and with a high 

 tone of voice. The fhriek, when very lliarp, 

 generally continues on the fame tone through 

 its whole extent ; but, when moderate, it com- 

 monly ends in a lower tone. 



Laughter is an interrupted found, often re- 

 peated, and accompanied with a kind of con- 

 vulfive motion of the belly, which is alternately 

 elevated and deprelTed. To facilitate this mo- 

 tion, the breaft and head are fometimes thrown 

 forward ; the cheft remains immoveable ; the 

 angels of the mouth recede from each other ; 

 and the cheeks fwell : Every time that the belly 

 is deprelTed, the air burfts from the mouth, and 

 occafions a noife, which, during the fit, is often 

 repeated, fometimes on the fame tone, and fome- 

 times the tones gradually diminifli. 



The lips, in immoderate laughter, and in moft 

 violent paffions, open wide ; but, in the more 

 tranquil emotions, the angles of the mouth re- 

 cede, v^ithout any opening of the lips, the 

 cheeks fwell, and, in fome perfons, dimples are 

 formed in them near the corners of the mouth : 

 This charm belongs to the graces, and is com- 

 monly attended with an agreeable fmile, which 

 is a mark of benevolence, and of internal fatif- 

 fadion : A fmile is alfo a mode of expreffmg 

 contempt and ridicule ; but, in thefe malignant 

 fmiles, we prefs the lips clofe to each other. 



The 



