My dear Thwaites

I am going to beg a favor of you, which will appear one of the oddest ever asked. Sir J Emerson Tennant says that captured elephants when moaning & screaming weep so that tears run down from the eyes.² Now I want most particularly to know when an elephant screa⁠⟨⁠ms⁠⟩⁠ very violently (perhaps it w^d be best observed with a young animal) whether the “orbicularis palpebrarum” acts, so that the skin becomes wrinkled round the eyes, & the eyes themselves partially or wholly closed.³ Could you anyhow get this observed for me, not trusting to any one’s memory. You will perceive that it is about expression⁴

I enclose some printed copies of my queries on expression, with two of the more important ones a little amended.⁵ If you can stir up any one to make a few observations on any race (tho’ I well know how difficult it is to observe) I should be very much obliged.

I hope you will excuse me troubling you & believe me my dear Thwaites | yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin