opinion, and I dare say you will say that I am an obstinate old blockhead.
(477/3. The raising of the hands in surprise is explained ("Expression of
Emotions," Edition I., page 287) on the doctrine of antithesis as being the
opposite of listlessness. Mr. Wallace's view (given in the 2nd edition of
"Expression of the Emotions," page 300) is that the gesture is appropriate
to sudden defence or to the giving of aid to another person.)

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LETTER 478. TO CHAUNCEY WRIGHT.
Down, September 21st, 1874.

I have read your long letter with the greatest interest, and it was
extremely kind of you to take such great trouble. Now that you call my
attention to the fact, I well know the appearance of persons moving the
head from side to side when critically viewing any object; and I am almost
sure that I have seen the same gesture in an affected person when speaking
in exaggerated terms of some beautiful object not present. I should think
your explanation of this gesture was the true one. But there seems to me a
rather wide difference between inclining or moving the head laterally, and
moving it in the same plane, as we do in negation, and, as you truly add,
in disapprobation. It may, however, be that these two movements of the
head have been confounded by travellers when speaking of the Turks.
Perhaps Prof. Lowell would remember whether the movement was identically
the same. Your remarks on the effects of viewing a sunset, etc., with the
head inverted are very curious. (478/1. The letter dated September 3rd,
1874, is published in Mr. Thayer's "Letters" of Chauncey Wright, privately
printed, Cambridge, Mass., 1878. Wright quotes Mr. Sophocles, a native of
Greece, at the time Professor of Modern and Ancient Greek at Harvard