To W. E. Darwin 11 February [1871]1
Down
Feb 11.
My dear William.
I have got a good deal of information about the pouting of children of savages, & this makes me wish much for precise details about the pouting of English children.2 None of you children ever pouted. All that I can remember is, that some sulky or sullen young children protrude their lips, frown, & often utter a booing or mooing noise.— It wd not be likely that Langstaff3 who wd be by far the best observer wd. see a pouting child—
Was it not Sandford4 who made some observations on expression for me?— Has he children? Do you know any observing lady who attends an infant school?— Think whether you could aid me.—
I am the more interested, as I fully believe that Pouting is a vestige (an embryonic relic during youth) of a very common expression of the adult anthropomorphous apes when excited in many ways.—5
Let us hear how you get on. | Yours affectly. | C.D
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Summary
Would like precise details about pouting of English children to add to his information about children of savages.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8208
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- William Erasmus Darwin
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Natural History Museum, Library and Archives (General Special Collections MSS DAR 31)
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8208,” accessed on 16 August 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8208.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19