298 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



hundred francs, sir." I do not know whether I most ad- 

 mired her or the donkey — the donkey who did his duty to 

 deaths or the woman more delicate than our charity. 



Arsene Houssai/e. 



EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION. 



1. The first principle upon which the emotional expres- 

 sion of animals depends is, that the muscular movement 

 which gives the expression is serviceable to the animal at 

 the time it is made. Among the carnivora, some crouch to 

 remain concealed until the game is within reach of their 

 spring ; others crouch to get out of sight altogether ; some 

 boldly advance to the attack, every muscle and nerve con- 

 nected with their organs of attack in extreme tension ; and 

 others await the attack, the nerves and muscles connected 

 with the organs of defense in equal tension. The various 

 attitudes assumed are necessary for the best performance 

 of the act which is to succeed, and the attitude becomes 

 the expression of the mood of the animal at the time. 



2. The second principle of expression is that of antithe- 

 sis. Certain states of mind lead to certain movements 

 which are of service. When a directly opposite state of 

 mind is induced, there is a strong and involuntary tendency 

 to make movements of a directly opposite nature, though 

 these have never been of any service. We can best illustrate 

 these principles by referring to the actions of the dog and 

 cat, which can be observed by all. 



3. When a dog approaches a strange dog or man in a 

 hostile frame of mind, lie walks upright and very stiffly ; 

 his head is slightly raised, or not much lowered ; the tail 

 is held erect and quite rigid ; the hairs bristle, especially 

 along the neck and back ; the pricked ears are directed for- 

 ward, and the eyes have a fixed stare. These actions fol- 



