vision being made in the open mouth for any occasional increase
of respiration above the uniform play of the lungs; while in the inoffensive
animals, the prey of the more ferocious, the inflation of the
nostril is provided for by the action of a peculiar set of muscles.
For example, in the horse “ the glory of whose nostrils is terrible,”
the muscles which inflate the nostril are very peculiar. They arise
like the Ringentes of the carnivorous animals; but instead of being
fixed into the lips, as in carnivorous animals, whose lips are to be
raised from the canine teeth, they pass to the nostrils, and in combination
with some lesser muscles powerfully inflate them when the
animal is pushed to his speed, or excited by fear, or inflamed to
rage. In the sheep, though the nostril seems to have a very limited
power of expansion, and the animal is soon run down, yet the
muscles of the nostril are particularly strong when compared with
those of a dog, which has only a small muscle for those quick
motions of the nostril, which we may observe while the animal is
smelling. In the fear and panting of a sheep, the motion of the
nostril is perhaps the only trait of expression.
When we turn our attention to the muscles of the human countenance,
we perceive, that while the motions of the lips and nostrils
have not the same extensive range as in the several classes of animals,
there is combined in the face of man a capacity for all the
variety of expressions which distinguish the several kinds of whose
nature he partakes. He stands, as it were, between the carnivorous
and graminivorous animals, or rather, it were more correct to say,
that he partakes of the nature of both. He has the snarling muscles
which we have observed so peculiarly to distinguish the carnivorous
anim als, while he is able to protrude the lips, and uncover the
incisores. In the carnivorous animals we have seen, that while the
muscles that descend from the bones of the cheek and upper jaw
to raise the lips are very strong, the orbicular, or circular fibres of
the lips are very imperfect, the lip being tied down at the fore
part to the gums. In the graminivorous animals, on the contrary,
the orbicular muscle is nearly perfect, while the elevating and
depressing muscles of the side of the mouth are deficient. But in
man, both those classes of muscles are combined; the elevating and
depressing muscles are perfect, while the orbicular muscle completely
antagonizes them, modulating and qualifying their actions,
and hestowing the utmost perfection on the motion of the lips.
Whether we look to the form of the features, or to their capacities
of expression, the consideration of the two classes of muscles,
as pointed out in the carnivorous and graminivorous brutes, will
illustrate some peculiarities. The excitement of passion will in one
man be indicated chiefly by the prevalence of one class of muscles,
and in another individual the other class will predominate and give
expression. In the Kemble cast of features there is a capacity of
high excitement; but in that family there never appeared the
k 2!