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pproached unseen and called to him from a little distance。 〃He turned round and saw me。 What he imagined I was I do not know； but a finer picture of fear and astonishment I never saw。 He stood incapable of moving a limb； riveted to the spot； mouth open and eyes staring。 。 。 。 He remained motionless until our black got within a few yards of him； when suddenly throwing down his waddies； he jumped into a mulga bush as high as he could get。〃 He could not speak； and answered not a word to the inquiries made by the black； but； trembling from head to foot； 〃waved with his hand for us to be off。〃
That the eyebrows are raised by an innate or instinctive impulse may be inferred from the fact that Laura Bridgman invariably acts thus when astonished； as I have been assured by the lady who has lately had charge of her。 As surprise is excited by something unexpected or unknown； we naturally desire； when startled； to perceive the cause as quickly as possible； and we consequently open our eyes fully； so that the field of vision may be increased； and the eyeballs moved easily in any direction。 But this hardly accounts for the eyebrows being so greatly raised as is the case； and for the wild staring of the open eyes。 The explanation lies； I believe； in the impossibility of opening the eyes with great rapidity by merely raising the upper lids。 To effect this the eyebrows must be lifted energetically。 Any one who will try to open his eyes as quickly as possible before a mirror will find that he acts thus； and the energetic lifting up of the eyebrows opens the eyes so widely that they stare； the white being exposed all round the iris。 Moreover； the elevation of the eyebrows is an advantage in looking upwards； for as long as they are lowered they impede our vision in this direction。 Sir C。 Bell gives＇3＇ a curious little proof of the part which the eyebrows play in opening the eyelids。 In a stupidly drunken man all the muscles are relaxed； and the eyelids consequently droop； in the same manner as when we are falling asleep。 To counteract this tendency the drunkard raises his eyebrows； and this gives to him a puzzled； foolish look； as is well represented in one of Hogarth's drawings。 The habit of raising the eyebrows having once been gained in order to see as quickly as possible all around us； the movement would follow from the force of association whenever astonishment was felt from any cause； even from a sudden sound or an idea。
＇2＇ ‘The Polyglot News Letter；' Melbourne； Dec。 1858； p。 2。
With adult persons； when the eyebrows are raised； the whole forehead becomes much wrinkled in transverse lines； but with children this occurs only to a slight degree。 The wrinkles run in lines concentric with each eyebrow； and are partially confluent in the middle。 They are highly characteristic of the expression of surprise or astonishment。 Each eyebrow； when raised； becomes also； as Duchenne remarks；＇4＇ more arched than it was before。
＇3＇ ‘The Anatomy of Expression；' p。 106。
The cause of the mouth being opened when astonishment is felt； is a much more complex affair； and several causes apparently concur in leading to this movement。 It has often been supposed＇5＇ that the sense of hearing is thus rendered more acute； but I have watched persons listening intently to a slight noise； the nature and source of which they knew perfectly； and they did not open their mouths。 Therefore I at one time imagined that the open mouth might aid in distinguishing the direction whence a sound proceeded； by giving another channel for its entrance into the ear through the eustachian tube； But Dr。 W。 Ogle＇6＇ has been so kind as to search the best recent authorities on the functions of the eustachian tube； and he informs me that it is almost conclusively proved that it remains closed except during the act of deglutition； and that in persons in whom the tube remains abnormally open； the sense of hearing； as far as external sounds are concerned； is by no means improved； on the contrary； it is impaired by the respiratory sounds being rendered more distinct。 If a watch be placed within the mouth； but not allowed to touch the sides； the ticking is heard much less plainly than when held outside。 In persons in whom from disease or a cold the eustachian tube is permanently or temporarily closed； the sense of hearing is injured； but this may be accounted for by mucus accumulating within the tube； and the consequent exclusion of air。 We may therefore infer that the mouth is not kept open under the sense of astonishment for the sake of hearing sounds more distinctly； notwithstanding that most deaf people keep their mouths open。
＇4＇ Mecanisme de la Physionomie；' Album； p。 6。
＇5＇ See； for instance； Dr。 Piderit （‘Mimik und Physiognomik；' s。 88）； who has a good discussion on the expression of surprise。
＇6＇ Dr。 Murie has also given me information leading to the same conclusion； derived in part from comparative anatomy。
Every sudden emotion； including astonishment； quickens the action of the heart； and with it the respiration。 Now we can breathe； as Gratiolet remarks＇7＇ and as appears to me to be the case； much more quietly through the open mouth than through the nostrils。 Therefore； when we wish to listen intently to any sound； we either stop breathing； or breathe as quietly as possible； by opening our mouths； at the same time keeping our bodies motionless。 One of my sons was awakened in the night by a noise under circumstances which naturally led to great care； and after a few minutes he perceived that his mouth was widely open。 He then became conscious that he had opened it for the sake of breathing as quietly as possible。 This view receives support from the reversed case which occurs with dogs。 A dog when panting after exercise； or on a hot day； breathes loudly； but if his attention be suddenly aroused； he instantly pricks his ears to listen； shuts his mouth； and breathes quietly； as he is enabled to do； through his nostrils。
When the attention is concentrated for a length of time with fixed earnestness on any object or subject； all the organs of the body are forgotten and neglected；＇8＇ and as the nervous energy of each individual is limited in amount； little is transmitted to any part of the system； excepting that which is at the time brought into energetic action。 Therefore many of the muscles tend to become relaxed； and the jaw drops from its own weight。 This will account for the dropping of the jaw and open mouth of a man stupefied with amazement； and perhaps when less strongly affected。 I have noticed this appearance； as I find recorded in my notes； in very young children when they were only moderately surprised。
＇7＇ ‘De la Physionomie；' 1865； p。 234。
＇8＇ See； on this subject； Gratiolet； ibid。 p。 254。
There is still another and highly effective cause； leading to the mouth being opened； when we are astonished； and more especially when we are suddenly startled。 We can draw a full and deep inspiration much more easily through the widely open mouth than through the nostrils。 Now when we start at any sudden sound or sight； almost all the muscles of the body are involuntarily and momentarily thrown into strong action； for the sake of guarding ourselves against or jumping away from the danger； which we habitually associate with anything unexpected。 But we always unconsciously prepare ourselves for any great exertion； as formerly explained； by first taking a deep and full inspiration； and we consequently open our mouths。 If no exertion follows； and we still remain astonished； we cease for a time to breathe； or breathe as quietly as possible； in order that every sound may be distinctly heard。 Or again； if our attention continues long and earnestly absorbed； all our muscles become relaxed； and the jaw； which was at first suddenly opened； remains dropped。 Thus several causes concur towards this same movement； whenever surprise； astonishment； or amazement is felt。
Although when thus affected； our mouths are generally opened； yet the lips are often a little protruded。 This fact reminds us of the same movement； though in a much more strongly marked degree； in the chimpanzee and orang when astonished。 As a strong expiration naturally follows the deep inspiration which accompanies the first sense of startled surprise； and as the lips are often protruded； the various sounds which are then commonly uttered can apparently be accounted for。 But sometimes a strong expiration alone is heard； thus Laura Bridgman； when amazed； rounds and protrudes her lips； opens them； and breathes strongly。＇9＇ One of the commonest sounds is a deep _Oh_； and this would naturally follow； as explained by Helmholtz； from the mouth being moderately opened and the lips protruded。 On a quiet night some rockets were fired from the ‘Beagle；' in a little creek at Tahiti； to amuse the natives； and as each rocket； was let off there was absolute silence； but this was invariably followed by a deep groaning _Oh_； resounding all round the bay。 Mr。 Washington Matthews says that the North American Indians express astonishment by a groan； and the negroes on the West Coast of Africa； according to Mr。 Winwood Reade； protrude their lips； and make a sound like _heigh； heigh_。 If the mouth is not