The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1868.04.30. I have been making Huxley children shut eyes violently several times CUL-DAR195.4.19. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR195 contains materials for Darwin's book Expression of the emotions (1872) organised roughly as: DAR195.1 blushing. DAR195.2 astonishment, fear. DAR195.3 indignation, rage, screaming, etc. DAR195.4 laughter, frowning, introduction.

The Huxley children: "1. Noel, 1856-60. 2. Jessie Oriana, 1858-1927. 3. Marian. 4. Leonard. 5. Rachel, 1862-1934, married 1884 Alfred Eckersley. 6. Henrietta, 1863-1940, known as "Nettie", married 1889 Harold Roller. 7. Henry, 1865-1946, married 1890 Sophia Stobart. 8. Ethel Gladys, 1866-1941, known as "Babs" and "Pabelunza", married 1889 John Collier (as deceased wife Marian's sister)." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021)

[19]

April 30/68/ I have been making Huxley children shut eyes violently several times; the eyes in some looked a little moist.

[insertion:] as did Ettys eyes, but not like after bit of coughing ─

When they opened their mouths a little & shut their eyes, the muscles to upper lip contract a little, but not so much as I do ─ I think the swelling of the cheek aid in shutting eyes. I suspect the muscles to upper lip act chiefly in connection with violent closure of eyes during screaming ─ (I saw Harry [Henry Huxley] crying, which upper lip drawn up, & forces & closed eyelids ─

[19v]

Emma hardly contracted at all her lip-muscle when she shuts her eye violently. ─

Make my Boys do this. ─ If I shut my eyes violently with mouth shut & then contract upper lip-muscles, I can feel the pressure on eye [illeg].─ & I feel which upper lip move & wings of nostrils drawn up. ─ (I also observed Lenny H. & Etty with mouth a little opened & certainly the upper lip was drawn up, so that certainly a deep oblique furrow was formed, obliquely from alæ of nose: I do not know whether the contraction of "lab. sup. alæque nasi" will effect them, or whether it requires the little zyg. ─ Perhaps Duchenne will show; otherwise I shd. not have thought that the zyg. had contracted.

Jessie H. from look of crying when closing eyes & opening mouth.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)