Holmes, Death-feigntng in Ranatrn. 21 1 



bend downward very gradually. If a specimen not in the death 

 feint is held out in this manner the body drops down at once. 



About three hours later all of the specimens were picked up 

 again, stroked, and dropped on the table as before. None of 

 them feigned as long as a minute, and some started off as soon 

 as they were free. Then the same experiment was repeated three 

 times, and in no case did the feint last more than a minute. At 

 8.30 the next morning several of the headless specimens were 

 walking restlessly about the dish. Those which were lying 

 quietly on the bottom were roused to activity by the slight current 

 of air caused by slowly waving an object above them. None of 

 the specimens could be induced to feign death for more than a 

 few seconds. In the evening they were again tried with the same 

 result. Restless movements were kept up, with short intervals 

 of quiet, all day, and on the following morning, although a few 

 were dead, most of the individuals were still active. None of these 

 would feign death for more than two minutes. 



It is abundantly evident that removal of the supraesophageal 

 ganglion causes a marked diminution of the duration of the death 

 feint. This is, in all probability, due to the heightened irrita- 

 bility which normally follows w^hen the inhibiting influence of 

 this center is no longer exerted. When decapitated specimens 

 are thrown into water they show the same restlessness as in air. 

 They swim about with perfectly coordinated movements of the 

 legs, often for hours at a time. When they come to rest they 

 assume the same attitude as that taken by normal individuals, 

 keeping the tip of the breathing tube exposed at the surface of 

 the water. If two individuals meet they seize each other and 

 struggle for some time before they become disengaged. If an 

 object touches one of the first pair of legs it is usually grabbed 

 at with the claws. When seized by the tip of the breathing tube 

 the headless individual immediately makes strokes with great 

 vigor and rapidity. If this does not enable it to get free the 

 insect has recourse to a remarkably neat and apparently intelligent 

 d£vice. The hind legs are thrown as far back as possible; they 

 are thus able to grasp the breathing tube a short distance behind 

 the body; then by exerting a pull they bend the body ventrally. 

 This soon brings the second pair of legs so that they can reach 

 the offending object when all four legs are employed to push the 

 body away. Several ineffectual attempts may be made to grasp 



