192 S. J. HOLMKS. 



Talorchestia longicornis during the day lies curled up in bur- 

 rows in the sand situated usually a short distance above high- 

 tide mark where the sand is loose and dry on the surface but 

 moist an inch or more below. The animal remains all day in an 

 apparent stupor much like the sleep of higher animals. The 

 feeding time is at night when Talorchestias come out of their 

 holes in swarms and run or hop in a lively manner over the sea- 

 weed near the water's edge. When dug out of its burrows in the 

 daytime Talorchestia may lie curled up in its original position, 

 apparently unawakened by the disturbance. Frequently it will 

 make a few hops in the sand and then curl up and lie perfectly 

 quiet. In assuming this condition the body is not only strongly 

 flexed but the legs are drawn up and the antennae are bent under 

 the thorax, the whole animal assuming as compact a form as 

 possible. While in this attitude Talorchestia may be rolled 

 about, picked up and handled, often with considerable roughness, 

 without betraying any signs of animation. It feigns death as 

 perfectly as many of the insects or spiders. After Jying in the 

 death-feigning attitude for some time the animal quickly jumps 

 up and scampers away. Waking up, however, is not instan- 

 taneous, but is preceded by certain symptoms which may readily 

 be observed if the creature is closely watched. There is first a 

 nervous twitch here and there, then a slight unbending of the 

 antennae and a straightening of the legs and body all of which 

 indicate a slight relaxation of the muscular tension under which 

 the animal labors and finally a sudden spring and attempt to 

 escape. The animal may be induced to feign death by holding 

 it quiet for a moment in the hand or by placing it in the sand. 

 It will feign death many times in immediate succession but the 

 duration of the response becomes on the average less the more 

 often it is caused to repeat the performance. After Talorchestia 

 feigns death several times it is more difficult to bring about the 

 response. As it becomes exhausted the death-feigning attitudes 

 become less typical and the body more relaxed and flaccid. The 

 animal is by no means passive while exhibiting this instinct but 

 is in a state of muscular tension ; and this condition is, I believe, 

 very common in the death-feigning of other animals. The con- 

 tact of solid bodies apparently favors the continuation of the 



