March, 1919] 



The Ottawa Naturalist 



173 



In summer, shallow drinking pools, bird baths, 

 and fountains are attractive to birds. Bird baths 

 should preier?b!y be placed in the shade, with no 

 cover immediately about them to hide the approach 

 of cats, which soon learn where the birds congregate. 



To attract wild fov/1, a pool, lake, or stream is 

 necessary, but these may be made more attractive 

 by propagating various species of wild water-plants 

 which are eaten by such birds. Grouse are best 

 attracted by feeding them in winter and protecting 

 them against enemies. Nesting places, nesting ma- 

 terial, bird-houses, and bird sleeping-places are also 

 discussed. 



Each family or group of birds has certain pre- 

 ferences of habitat and certain favorite foods, and 

 Mr. Forbush gives special notes on the fancies and 

 foibles of about forty of the more common species 

 which are susceptible to human attentions, and the 

 whole will repay the study of any person who enjoys 

 the presence of birds around his home. Many of 

 the devices and hints described, would be useful to 

 teachers of nature study or manual training in 

 schools where the pupils are encouraged in the 

 building and setting up of bird-houses and refuges. 



R. M. Anderson. 



"Position Terrifiante" des Animaux. Sicd- 

 lecki, Michel, 1919.'^ Comptes Rendus, Societe de 

 Biologie. Tome LXXXII, No. 2. 



It is a well known fact that when certain animals 

 are suddenly surprised by their enemies or by 

 passers-by which appear dangerous, they assume 

 extraordinary positions, which are most often called 

 positions of combat or terrifying positions. The best 

 common examples are those of the cat pursued by a 

 dog, or of the corba raising up and spreading its 

 neck. Savants have considered this attitude as a 

 voluntary conscious action. 



The object of this attitude would be to protect. 

 Weismann mentions, Chaerocampa elpenor, a cater- 

 pillar, which he believes frightens the animals which 

 prey on it. 



My idea concerning these attitudes is that they 

 accord with the generally admitted theories. 



Certain animals such as the large spiders, Seleno- 

 cosmia javanica, or the scorpions, Heterometrus 

 javanicus, when they put themselves in a terrifying 

 position present their weapons of offence (chehcerae 

 or venomous hooks) they place them in an easy pos- 

 ition for attack. 



Other animals behave in a totally different man- 

 ner. The corba in striking its prey does not Hft 

 itself up or swell its neck. The brown mantis, 

 Deroplatys desiccata, when it sees a lizard spreads 

 its wings and lifts up its anterior legs, but when it 



*Translated by S. Hadwen. 



is about to capture its prey the wings remain closed 

 and the pincer-legs are folded on the thorax. 



The European mantids when they are about to 

 fight among themselves seldom assume the terrifying 

 position (Fabre). 



The terrifying position is most often without value 

 as a means of defence. We have seen a large 

 lizard, Ceclfo verticillatus, devour a mantid with- 

 out hesitation, which had assumed a terrifying pos- 

 ition. We have also seen a mantid which was 

 catching a caterpillar, Papilio dernolion, assuming a 

 position which resembled closely that of Chaero- 

 campa elpenor, studied by Weismann. 



Often this terrifying attitude is assumed even when 

 the animal is not in danger. We have seen a 

 mantis, Mantis laticollis, assume a terrifying position 

 the minute that we lightly jarred the cage in which 

 the animal was held captive. On the contrary, a 

 mantis placed with a scorpion in a large container 

 defended itself in vain with its strong anterior legs, 

 but did not assume the attitude which is called com- 

 bative. 



One of the most interesting things concerning an 

 animal which assumes a terrifying position appears 

 to be the relation which fatigue bears to this 

 phenomenon. 



Note. The first time we noticed the connection 

 between the terrifying position and that of fatigue 

 was exemplified by a large lizard, Varanus salvator, 

 Im^O in length, which had been brought to us in a 

 basket by a Malayan coolie. The animal was very 

 weak and made no resistance when we placed it in 

 a basin. For three days he was kept there without 

 food ; and did not move when touched with a stick. 

 He was taken out of the basin to be chloroformed, 

 but at the moment when the laboratory helper was 

 putting a sack over his head with the chloroform, 

 the animal suddenly assumed a terrifying aspect. 

 The anterior feet were lifted up, its throat swelled, 

 its mouth was open, showing rows of teeth, the tail 

 was lifted up rigid ready to strike and the position 

 it assumed was certainly imposing. But despite all 

 this, the animal was in so feeble a condition that 

 there was no difficulty experienced in capturing him. 

 The same animals, which in a full state of vigor 

 do not assume the terrifying attitude, make use of it 

 as soon as they become weak. We have observed 

 the females of the large yellow spiders, Plalyihomisus 

 ociomaculatus, which after they had laid their eggs 

 and had constructed their large cocoons upon which 

 they rested ; it was then only necessary to approach 

 them to immediately provoke the terrifying position. 

 Resting firmly on the cocoon with the four posterior 

 legs, the animal extended its anterior extremities and 

 produced with these an oscillatory movement of such 

 rapidity that they became nearly invisible. The 



