ANIMALS PARALYZED BY FEAR. 373 



and afterwards picked up by a person sent for 

 that purpose from one of the adjoining Stations. 

 When trains have been passing along the fine via- 

 duct over the Thames at Maidenhead, rooks have 

 flown against them as if the power of self-preser- 

 vation had abandoned these otherwise crafty birds, 

 or rather as if they had lost the faculty which 

 would have enabled them so easily to have avoided 

 the danger. The same thing has happened with 

 pheasants, and one is now alive at Steventon, 

 which flew into one of the windows of a first class 

 carriage, and was taken. 



The following extraordinary circumstance lately 

 occurred on a railway, and it proves not only that 

 pigs are sensible animals, but that they are pos 

 sessed with a certain degree of reflection, presence 

 of mind, and nerve. One morning fifteen young 

 pigs broke out of a field, and got upon the rail- 

 way, and were between two of the rails, when a 

 train approached with all its appalling accompani- 

 ments of noise, fire and smoke. The pigs were 

 seen, but too late to stop the engine, and their 

 owner, who happened to be on his farm, expected 

 to have seen them all killed. They remained how- 

 ever in line, and stood perfectly still till the train 

 had passed over them, and not one was hurt. 

 They appeared to be sensible of the escape they 

 had had, by running back to the field squeaking 

 and capering with satisfaction. 



