MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 705 



•' It would rather appear that the apprehension shown by them at sight or 

 scent of man is grafted upon them when young by the examples of their 

 elders, as well as by personal experience. 



" Undoubtedly one of the most striking ingrained traits in all animals, without 

 exception, is the fear of the unknown, and any living object not seen before is 

 a source at once of suspicion and of curiosity : if the gratification of the latter 

 feeling gives ground for confirmation of the former, from that day the animal 

 will do his best to avoid objects of similar appearance and odour, while if he 

 discovers a spirit of aggresssion and a tendency to pursue and injure him, he 

 will soon become exceedingly frightened of what at first merely aroused passing 

 surprise and alarm." 



One has the phrase "natural fear of man" thrown at one as if that explained 

 everything. It has always seemed unsatisfactory to me, and indeed untenable 

 in the face of many known facts, such the case of the birds on the Galapagos 

 Islands, which on the first appearance of man were so fearless as to allow 

 themselves to be caught by hand. 



C. E. C. FISCHER. 



London, 16th February 1908. 



