H4 Notices of Books. 'January, 



is continued now as a habit when of no such use. The second is 

 the principle of Antithesis, which is, that certain actions or atti- 

 tudes being the natural acompaniment of a given emotion or state 

 of mind, the opposite state of mind will be expressed by actions 

 or attitudes which are, as far as possible, the exact opposites of 

 the former. A good example of this is given by the case of the 

 dog and cat. The former crouches down and holds down its tail 

 when licking its master's hands or jumping on his knees : but 

 the cat while rubbing against its master's leg, stands erect with 

 somewhat arched back and tail up on end. These attitudes are 

 explained by their being in each case the opposite of those 

 assumed when the animals prepare to fight. The dog stands 

 eredt, holds up his tail and bristles up the hairs on his back and 

 shoulders ; the cat crouches down with paws out and the tail 

 laid flat on the ground, and gently waved from side to side. 

 When the opposite emotions of gentleness, submission, and 

 affection occur, the attitudes assumed are as remote as possible 

 from those associated with anger and pugnacity. 



The third principle is, that certain actions expressive of certain 

 states of mind are the direct results of the constitution of the 

 nervous system, being almost wholly independent of the will and 

 of habit. Trembling under the influence of fear, or rage, or joy, 

 is an example of this. It is of no use and it is quite involuntary; 

 it cannot, therefore, have been acquired by the means already 

 pointed out. It may be said that this is merely a confession of 

 ignorance, and so it is in some cases ; but in others Mr. Darwin 

 traces the causes in the known action of certain nerves or 

 muscles, and so gives a valid explanation. Such is the case 

 with the firm closure of the eyes by screaming infants. This 

 is quite involuntary, and does not occur later in life, but the 

 whole mechanism by which it is produced has been traced out, 

 and it is found that it is a provision to prevent injury to the 

 delicate vessels of the eyes by the increased flow of blood to the 

 head during violent screaming. 



By means of a series of questions sent to correspondents in 

 various parts of the world, Mr. Darwin has ascertained that many 

 well-known modes of expression are almost universal. Even such 

 an apparently conventional action as the shrug of helplessness 

 or apologetic refusal has been observed among various savage 

 races. Being thus proved to be a natural, not an acquired, ex- 

 pression, it becomes necessary to account for it, and this is done 

 on the principle of antithesis ; every part of the expression being 

 the opposite of that which implies determination, and action. 

 Comparatively few human expressions, on the other hand, can 

 be distinctly recognised in animals, that of sneering by raising 

 the upper lip on one side, and thus showing the canine teeth, 

 being one of the most curious. There is a very elaborate dis- 

 cussion on blushing. This is a peculiarly human attribute, being 

 observed in almost every race of man. but not in the lower 



