Dear Sir,

In reference to your remarks upon the dilations of the pupils of the eye through fear, in your work on “The Expression of the Emotions”, I beg to send you the following, hoping, that it may be of service to you—¹ I distinctly recollect observing, & remarking upon, the largely dilated pupils in an Irish water-spaniel, a black retriever, & within the last few days, in a fox-terrier which I have lately observed to ensure the correctness of my former observations.² In the History of British India (Edinburgh Literary Library ed. 1843) page 32 I find this passage as descriptive of a horse’s fear of a lion—³

“.... his quivering limbs & large dilated eyes exhibit the depth of uncontrolled dismay ....”

The dilation I venture to think refers to the pupils (& not simply to the eyelids) because I have observed it in a donky not infrequently when frightened.

I shall hope to obtain some fuller & more exact information on this point; meanwhile I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in thus writing to you, and believe me to remain your sincere well-wisher & admirer, | J. W. Clark.