72 
rOrULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
unquestionably derived, in the second place, from a primitive stage of man, 
and in tbe first case from the quadrumanous animals which must, through 
some branch — possibly an extinct one — be our ancestors. 
But the numerous examples which Mr. Darwin gives, render it im- 
possible for any rational person to incline to any but the belief of our 
evolutional descent. Of these we shall select but a few, which not only 
demonstrate the author’s opinions, but which show how extraordinarily 
close his observations have been. Concerning the remarkable habit pos- 
sessed by dogs after discharging excrement, he says : — 
Dogs, after voiding their excrement, often make with all four feet a 
few scratches backward, even on a smooth stone pavement, as if for the 
purpose of covering up their excrement with earth, in the same manner as 
do cats. Wolves and jackals behave in the Zoological Gardens in nearly 
the same manner, as do cats ,• yet, as I am assured by the keepers, neither 
wolves, jackals nor foxes, when they have the means of doing so, cover up 
their excrement, any more than do dogs. All these animals, however, 
buiy superfluous food. Hence, if we rightly understand the meaning of 
the above cat-like habit, of which there can be little doubt, we have a 
purposeless remnant of an habitual movement, which was originally fol- 
lowed by some remote progenitor of the dog genus for a definite purpose, 
and which has been retained for a prodigious length of time.” 
This is remarkable enough ; though it may be objected, that it does not 
prove anything with regard to man, it is of value as proving that habits 
have undoubtedly descended through the Mammalia. 
But it is in regard to the expressions of monkeys and of ourselves that 
the best part of this work relates. Assuredly, the results are most remark- 
able, and so far as we can see, it is impossible to put any other conclusion 
upon the observation of these results, than that they are the one parental 
to the other. Mr. Darwin gives numerous examples from his own observa- 
tion and from that of others, showing that the monkeys are excited to 
express laughter, and pain, and anger, very much as we ourselves are ; and 
though this is not so manifest in the higher apes because of their want of 
eyebrows, it is still displayed to a careful observer. The author, speaking 
of some observations made at the Zoological Gardens, says that the 
Anubis baboon was first insulted and put into a furious rage, as was easily 
done by his keeper, who then made friends with him and shook hands. As 
the reconciliation was effected, the baboon rapidly moved up and down his 
jaws and lips, and looked pleased. When we laugh heartily, a similar 
movement or quiver may be observed, more or less distinctly, in our jawsj 
but with man the muscles of the chest are more particularly acted on, 
whilst with this baboon, and with some other monkeys, it is the muscles 
of the jaws and lips which are spasmodically affected.” 
Many other instances are given by the author with reference to monkeys, 
among others, one with regard to the closure of the mouth. When,” he 
says, we try to perform some little action which is difficult and requires 
precision — for instance, to thread a needle — we generally close our lips 
firmly, for the sake, I presume, of not disturbing our movements by breath- 
ing; and I noticed the same action in a young orang. The poor little 
creature was sick, and was amusing itself by trying to kill the flies on the 
