80

Dn. (93):

A. R. Wallace Review of Letters following

p. 127 (Review & letters about w. [illeg])
F.D. has made a note

/ Horse in full gallop said by Dr. [Wallace] to lower his tail to avoid the resistance of the air. W. thinks it more simply explained by saying its nervous energy draughted off elsewhere

/ Expression of astonishment: throwing up the hands is to ward off danger & prepare for action

The passages in Wallace's review noted here are:

"When a horse breaks into a gallop, at full speed, he always lowers his tail, and this is said to be done in order that as little resistance as possible may be offered to the air. This reason seems very fanciful, when the obvious explanation occurs, that, as the whole available nervous energy is being expended in locomotion, all special muscular contractions not aiding in the motion cease."

"The open mouth, and raised arms with open hands turned outwards, is an expression of astonishment very general all over the world. Mr. Darwin explains the open mouth by a complication of causes, but he omits to notice, what seems to me a very probable one, that it represents an incipient cry of alarm or fear, or call for help. The raising of the arms and the open hands are explained by antithesis, they being the opposite of a state of indifference or listlessness. But this seems very unsatisfactory. The attitude is too definite, too uniform, and too widespread, to be derived from such a vague and variable cause as the opposite of a position of unconcernedness. There seems, however, to be a very obvious and natural explanation of the gesture. Astonishment, among our savage ancestors, would most frequently be excited by the sudden appearance of enemies or wild beasts, or by seeing a friend or a child in imminent danger. The appropriate movement, either to defend the observer's face or body, or to prepare to give assistance to the person in danger, is to raise the arms and open the hands, at the same time opening the mouth to utter a cry of alarm or encouragement."

Wallace, A. R. 1873. [Review of Expression]. Quarterly Journal of Science 3 (37, January): 113-118. Text