110 ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



the hive (11), the knocking of tlie heads of ants against 

 dry leaves (20, 26), the chirping of crickets (Grillidae) 

 (20, 5), the clucking of frogs (2), and the movements of 

 plant lice, of fireflies on the wing, and even of sensitive 

 plants (2). 



In examining these reports the psychologist becomes 

 aware of certain features familiar to him in his study of 

 observation and of testimony; and the writer, having ac- 

 quainted himself with the subject of rhythm, has taken an 

 additionally keen interest in the discussion. A few years 

 ago he made a special investigation into the problem of 

 visual rhythms and discovered in the present question 

 some elements common also to his former experiments. 



First of all, then, as to matters of general psychologi- 

 cal significance, we may note these: 



1. The observations for the most part occur under 

 uncritical conditions. In some respects the circumstances 

 are akin to those accompanying the observation of many 

 mediumistic performances. In a majority of the reports 

 the writer has noticed an emotional attitude and the des- 

 cription of conditions bordering on the romantic. For 

 example we read : 



''We sat gazing enraptured on a pyramid of living 

 light, suspended, as it were, by threads of fairy gold. 

 On a high black walnut tree there had gathered myriads 

 of fireflies, which moving through the dark foliage as if 

 to the time of some enchanter's music, presented a scene 

 of exquisite loveliness, which it is impossible to describe. 

 As the fairy mass revolved, now up, now down, then 

 round as to the measured time of a dance, my companion 

 in ecstasy exclaimed, 'Captain, I would work twelve 

 months for nothing to see such a sight as this.' " (28) 



"At one moment every leaf and branch appears dec- 

 orated with diamond-like fire ; and soon there is darkness, 

 to be again succeeded by flashes from innumerable lamps 

 which whirl about in rapid agitation. If stars be the 



1 Numbers in parentheses refer to bibliography at the close of the 

 paper. Page references were not deemed necessary because of the brevity 

 of most of the articles cited. 



