The Scottish A T aturalist. 143 



feared, on the contrary, all white inanimate objects — such as 

 white mantles or coats, even the sleeves of shirts and chemises 

 too much displayed, and particularly white plumes. When any 

 of these white bodies, and especially in motion, were suddenly 

 perceived, if they were of any magnitude, and their motion was 

 rapid, she was in a dreadful fright, and strove to escape ; but 

 if they were of no great size, and moved more gently, she 

 rushed furiously upon them, struck at them with her fore-feet, 

 and endeavoured to tear them with her teeth. No other colours 

 produced the slightest effect upon her ; nor did the appearance, 

 however sudden, of white horses or dogs ; but if a white plume 

 waved, or a white sheet of paper floated by her, her fear or 

 rage was ungovernable. 



"These three cases of singular and particular aversion possess, 

 in my mind, all the characters of true monomania^ — [Extract 

 from " Penny Magazine," 1835.] It is noteworthy that in all 

 the above cases Mares, not Horses, were the subjects of 

 Eccentricity. 



From Wakefield, Yorkshire, Dr. M'Dowall also wrote me on 

 29th June. 1873 : — 



" Perhaps the following passage in Shakespeare may be of use 

 to you as a curious illustration of Insanity among the lower 

 animals. 



Rosse. — And Duncan's horses 



(A thing most strange and certain), 

 Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, 

 Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, 

 Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would 

 Make war with mankind. 



Old Man. — 



'Tis said they eat each other. 



Rosse. — They did so, — to the amazement of mine eyes, 

 That look'd upon't. 



(Macbeth, act il, scene iv.) 



" In all probability you already know that in former times, 

 when luitchcraft was believed in, Insanity among the lower 

 animals was believed to be exceedingly common. I am work- 

 ing up a paper which will contain all sorts of " Antiquarian 

 scraps relating to Insanity," and have a large number of cases of 



