ANIMALS PARALYZED BY FEAR. 



spection. Sometimes the male warns the female 

 by a particular cry of approaching danger, or de- 

 fends her with the greatest courage. Those crea- 

 tures which multiply in abundance have a propor- 

 tionate number of enemies, whilst the lion and 

 the eagle have little to fear except from man. 

 These are able to defend themselves, but timid 

 animals make use of evasion, and a variety of 

 means to ward off impending danger. Fear is 

 therefore implanted in them, and is a great pre- 

 servative. The lofty forest tree, the unsightly 

 heap of nettles, or the common bramble, are 

 places to which a feeble bird may retreat, when 

 apprehensive of an attack being made upon it. 



Some animals under unusual or peculiar cir- 

 cumstances, seem to lose the power of self-preser- 

 vation. Numerous instances have occurred of 

 hares being overtaken, or met on a railroad by 

 engines, and becoming so completely paralyzed 

 with fear as to make no attempt whatever to avoid 

 the coming danger. This they might easily have 

 done by running to the right or left. Instead of 

 which they have waited till the noisy and rapid 

 machine was close upon them, when they have 

 given one convulsive spring, and have thus been 

 caught in the scoop under the engine. The same 

 thing has happened with respect to partridges, 

 and in one instance as many as five of these birds 

 were knocked down at the same time by an engine, 



