primary purpose or object. This, however, seems rarely or never to have
been the case; the movements having been at first either of some direct
use, or the indirect effect of the excited state of the sensorium. An
infant may scream either intentionally or instinctively to show that it
wants food; but it has no wish or intention to draw its features into
the peculiar form which so plainly indicates misery; yet some of the
most characteristic expressions exhibited by man are derived from the
act of screaming, as has been explained.
Although most of our expressive actions are innate or instinctive, as
is admitted by everyone, it is a different question whether we have any
instinctive power of recognizing them. This has generally been assumed
to be the case; but the assumption has been strongly controverted by M.
Lemoine.[1402] Monkeys soon learn to distinguish, not only the tones of
voice of their masters, but the expression of their faces, as is
asserted by a careful observer.[1403] Dogs well know the difference
between caressing and threatening gestures or tones; and they seem to
recognize a compassionate tone. But as far as I can make out, after
repeated trials, they do not understand any movement confined to the
features, excepting a smile or laugh; and this they appear, at least in
some cases, to recognize. This limited amount of knowledge has probably
been gained, both by monkeys and dogs, through their associating harsh
or kind treatment with our actions; and the knowledge certainly is not
instinctive. Children, no doubt, would soon learn the movements of
expression in their elders in the same manner as animals learn those of
man. Moreover, when a child cries or laughs, he knows in a general
manner what he is doing and what he feels; so that a very small
exertion of reason would tell him what crying or laughing meant in
others. But the question is, do our children acquire their knowledge of
expression solely by experience through the power of association and
reason?
As most of the movements of expression must have been gradually
acquired, afterwards becoming instinctive, there seems to be some
degree of _a priori_ probability that their recognition would likewise
have become instinctive. There is, at least, no greater difficulty in
believing this than in admitting that, when a female quadruped first
bears young, she knows the cry of distress of her offspring, or than in
admitting that many animals instinctively recognize and fear their
enemies; and of both these statements there can be no reasonable doubt.
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