MISTAKES OF INSECTS. 77 



would be certain to deceive the inexperienced ; and 

 Majendie's servant actuallly fell an immediate victim 

 to her desire of tasting the prussic acid which she 

 found in his laboratory. This would be considered 

 perhaps a mistake arising from the artificial habits ac- 

 quired in society, by those who maintain that animals, 

 guided by instinct, never mistake poison for food. But 

 we may add another curious instance or two of simi- 

 lar mistakes in the inferior races. 



The common earth-worm [Lumbriciis terrestris)' 

 is instinctively afraid of moles ; and no sooner does it 

 hear any subterranean noise, or feel any shaking of 

 the ground, similar to those indicative of the approach- 

 ing movements of its enemy, than it makes a speedy 

 escape to the surface. Every boy knows how to take 

 advantage of this to procure fish-baits, by thrusting a 

 spade or stake into the ground, and moving it backwards 

 and forwards, to imitate the advance of a mole burrow- 

 ing in search of prey. The worm, unable from its in- 

 stinct to discriminate between its subterranean enemy 

 and the spade, darts into day-hght, and is instantly cap- 

 tured for the boy's bait-bag. The lapwing ( Vancllus 

 cristatus, Meyer), it is stated by Dr Anderson in his 

 ' Bee,' is aware of this instinctive fear in the earth- 

 worm of subterranean concussions or noises ; and 

 when it cannot find sufficiency of slugs,* &c, above 

 ground, it pats with its feet, till the earth-worms, mis- 

 taking it for an advancing mole, come forth to be feast- 

 ed upon. 



It is well known that, whenever a hawk appears, 

 he is immediately surrounded by a host of small birds, 

 particularly swallows, which dart at him and tease him, 

 for the purpose, as may be supposed, of distracting his 

 attention, on the principle that ' wealth makes wit wa- 



* * Nourriture ; — insectes, araignpes, vers, et petits lima- 

 cons.' TEMMiNCK.Manuel d'Ornithologie, p. 552, 2d edit. 



7* 



