THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 65 



time I have found only a few trifling exceptions 

 in the use of this sign among all the races of 

 men, and those few exceptions are found among 

 the Caucasian race, and appear to be confined to 

 Southern Europe. I have heard that among 

 certain island tribes of Polynesia these signs are 

 reversed ; but I have been assured by two officers 

 of the English navy and two of the United States 

 navy, who have visited the islands in question, 

 that such is not the case. Among the Indians, 

 Mongolians, and Negroes I have found no note- 

 worthy exceptions. I have inquired among 

 mothers who have raised families to ascertain 

 where they first observed this sign as an expres- 

 sion among their children ; and from the con- 

 sensus of opinion it appears that this is about 

 the first sign used by infants to express nega- 

 tion. 



I have not found the positive sign, or sign of 

 affirmation by a nod of the head, to be so general ; 

 yet it has a wide range within the human family, 

 and appears to be used to some extent among the 

 lower primates. 



Seeking a source from which these signs may 

 have originated, I have concluded that they may 

 arise from two circumstances: The negative 



