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Show ( 50 ) CHAPTER II. P S OF ExPRESSION-continueil. GENERAL RINCIPLE · · I tances in the do<Y and cat~ Ori5in 'The Principle of Antithesis- ns . Tho .· . l 1~ t. . . 1 C ntional slans- e pnnmp e o an 1- of t?e pnnCip e---:- onfv~om opposite actions being consciously thesis has not ansen 1 • performed under opposite impulses. 'VE will now consider our se?ond. Principle, that. of An tI' ti1 esi·s . Certain states of the m1nd lead., as we have seen in the last chapter, to certain . habitual m~ve- 1nents which were primarily, or may still be, of _servwe ; and we shall find that when a directly opposite state ~f mind is induced, there is a strong and invol~ntary tendency to the performance of movements of a duectly opposite nature, though these have neve~· be~n o~ any service. A few striking instances of antithesis will be rriven when we treat of the special expressions of man; but ;s, in these cases, we are particularly liable to confound conventional or artificial gestures and expressions with those which are innate or uni~ersal, a~d which alone deserve to rank as true expressions, I will in the present chapter almost confine 1nyself to the lower animals. 'Vhen a dog approaches a strange dog or man in a savage or hostile frame of mind he walks upright anrl very stiffiy; his head is slightly raised, or not mueh lowered; the tail is held erect and quite rigid; the hairs bristle, especially along the neck and back; the pricked ears are directed forwards, and the ~yes have a fixed stare: (see figs. 5 and 7). These actwns, as will l1erea.fter be explained, follow from the dog'~ CHAP. II. THE PTIINCIPLE OF ANTITHESIS. 51 intention to _attack his enemy, and are thus to a Ia:·ge extent Intelligible. . As he prepares to spring with a savage growl on h1s enemy, the canine teeth are uncovered, and the ears are pressed close back_ wards on the head; but with these latter actions, we are not here co~cerned. Let us now suppose that the dog suddenly d1scovers that the man whom he is app:oaching, is not a stranger, Lut his Inaster ; and let It be observed how completely and instantaneously his . whole bearin~ is reversed. Instead of walking upnght, the body sinks downwards or even crouches and is thrown into flexuous movements; his tail inste~d of b~ing hel~ stiff a_nd u~ri~ht, is lowered and w~gged from s1de to s1de; h1s hatr Instantly becomes smooth; his ears are depressed anc~ dr~wn backwards, but not closely to t~e head; and his hps hang loosely. From the drawing back of the ears, the eyelids become elon ()'a ted and the eyes no longer appear round and starin;. I~ should be added that the aniinal is at such times in an excited condition from joy ; and nerve-force will be generated in excess, 'vhich naturally leads to action of son1e ki~d. Not o~e of the above movements, so clearly express1 ve of affection, are of the least direct service to the animal. They are explicable, as far as I can see solely from being in complete opposition or antithesis t~ the attitude and mov~ments which, fro1n intelligible ·causes, are assumed when a doQ" intends to fio-ht and h' h <..J 0 w Ic consequently are expressive of anger. I 1·e' quest th~ reader to look at the four accompanying sketches, whwh have been given in order to recall vividly the ap~earance of a dog under these two states of mind. !t Is, however, not a little difficult to represent affection In. a dog, whilst caressing his master and wagging his t~Il, as the essence of the expression lies in the continuous flexuous movements. E 2 |