Herrick, Instinctive Traits of Animals. 119 



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confinement or when well-fed express their enjoyment by a 

 series of curious convulsive kicks which remind one of nothing 

 so much as the playful contempt of a stall-fed heifer on escape 

 from leading. The same antics, in but slight modified form, 

 prevail among the rabbits and most rodents (I have observed it 

 even in Geo>nys hiirsarius) in the sheep, kine, horses, etc. 



This, which may be briefly designated as the gambol., is 

 present in carinvora in a more or less modified from. In Felidce 

 the animal arches its back and bounds up and down throwing 

 the axis of the body now this wav, now that, ending with a short 

 rush. In the raccoon the same prancing with up-lifted tail is 

 jjronounced. I have observed something similar in foxes. Es- 

 sentially the same motion is that of a child which "jumps up 

 and down'' with pure gaiety. So wide-spread a form of spon- 

 taneous expression of reJundant energy must have an elementary 

 character but slightly in advance of the skurry at first described. 

 In non-j^redaceous animals the next most characteristic jilay 

 antic is simulated flight. Even guinea pigs delight to wander a 

 short distance from home and then scurry back in well-imitated 

 ccMislernation ; colts, calves, and lambs select some point as a 

 danger ambuscade and make inquisitive forrays and fly in great 

 disorder from foes of their own imagining. 



It requires no special explanation that the overflowing 

 energy should be controlled by the inherited instinct of self- 

 preservation. At first thought, it may seem strange that what 

 in itself must be a most painful experience — fright — should form 

 the staple of a play exercise which is expressive or productive of 

 pk^asure. Very many of the amusements of children owe their 

 fascination to the element of danger, real or simulated, the escape 

 from which affords a sudden relief from tension which is essenti- 

 ally a pleasurable stimulus. To this add the egoistic satisfaction 

 of escape due to our powers, exertation or acumen. How far 

 can such egoistic elements enter into the experience of lower 

 animals? 



The extent to which the agressive and defensive or fugitive 

 element enters play exercise is a good ind-x of the habits of an 

 animal May it not also serve to give the attentive parent or 

 teacher a clue to the mental disposition of the child ? 



Even in non-predatory animals, however, there is developed 



