RECORD: Darwin, C. R. Notebook M, excised pp. 145-146. CUL-DAR53.1.A1. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2025. 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-DAR53.1 contains notes, photographs, and drawings for Darwin's book The expression of the emotions.

Darwin, C. R. Notebook N: Metaphysics & expression. Text & image CUL-DAR126


A1

What is Emotion analysis of expression of desire — is there not protrusion of chin, like bulls & horses.— 1838 115 good instance of useless muscular tricks accompanying emotion.— when horses fighting, they put down ears, when turning round to kick116 kicking they do the same. although it is then quite useless — Cats kneeding when old, like kittens at the breast now if horns were to grow on horses, they must yet continue to put down ears, when kicking.—

good case of expression showing real affinity in face of donkey, horse & zebra, when going to kick.— Why does dog put down ears, when pleased.— is it opposite movement to drawing them close on head, when going to fight, in which case expression resembles a

115. Added in blue crayon.

116. Zoonomia, p. 152: ". . . the horse, as he fights by striking with his hinder feet, turns his heels to his foe, and bends back his ears, to listen out the place of his adversary, that the threatened blow may not be ineffectual." In his personal copy beside this statement, Darwin wrote, "Sir C. Bell says because he looks back."

A1v

(The laughing noise which C. Sphynx made at Z. Gardens may be described as partaking of st. made by ret inspiration & quickly retracting tongue from behind upper & little between incisors.— like wor wha> person says "what a pity" —

Lavater's Essays on Physiognomy translated by Holcroft Vol I .p. 86113 "We ought never to forget - - - ; that every man is born with a portion of phsiognominical sensation, as certainly as every man who is not deformed, is born with two eyes. ." I think this cannot be disputed anymore in men. than in animals.— In the drawings of Voltaire why is under lip curled over upper with mouth shut, expressing cool irony, not biting?114

113. Lavater, John Casper, Essays on Physiognomy; for the Promotion of the Knowledge and the Love of Mankind. Transl. by Thomas Holcroft, 2d ed., To which are added, One Hundred Physiognomonical Rules. A Posthumous Work by Mr. Lavater, and Memoirs of the Life of the Author . . . by G. Gessner, 3 vols. (Vol. 3 in 2 parts), Symonds, Whittingham, London, 1804, Vol. 1, p. 86. "We ought never to forget that the very purport of outward expression is to teach what passes in the mind, and that to deprive man of this source of knowledge were to reduce him to utter ignorance; that every man is born with a certain portion of physiognomonical sensation, as certainly as that every man, who is not deformed, is born with two eyes; that all men, in their intercourse with each other, form physiognomonical decisions, according as their judgment is more or less clear . . ."

114. A single vertical line in blue crayon drawn down the margin of the page.


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

File last updated 18 June, 2025