REFLEXES, LNSTIXCl, AM) UlOASuN 



435 



live snake. He was staggtMcd hy tlic si^rht, Init aft<T a while 

 he went back and looked ajL!:ain, to rejjcat the oxi)ericnc('. J-^ich 

 wild animal has its special instinct of resistance or method of 

 keeping off its enemies. T\h) stamping of a sheep, the kicking 

 of a horse, the running; in a circle of a hare, and the skulking 

 in a circle of some foxes, are exami)l('s of this sort of instinct. 



Fig. 209. — Ne.«*tlings of the -Amerrcan bittern, two of a brood of four birds one week oUI, 

 at which age they showed no fear of man. (Photoiifraph by K. N. Tn)>or, .MiTidian, 

 N, Y., May 31, 1898. Permission of Macmillaii Co.. pubh.sher.x of "Bird l.<>tx\") 



The play instinct is developed in numerous animals. To 

 this class belong the wrestlings and mimic fights of young 

 dogs, bear ciil)S, seal pups, and young beasts generally. ( ats 

 and kittens play with mice. Stjuirrels j)lay in the trees. Per- 

 haps it is the play imjiulse tiuit leads the shrike or butcher bird 

 to impale small l)irds and l)eetles on tlie thorns about its nest, 

 a gliastly kind of ornament tliat seems to confer satisfaction 

 on the bird itself. The talking of tlie parrots and their imita- 

 tions of the sounds they hriiv seem to be of the nature of |)lay. 

 The greater their superfluous (»nergy the more they will talk. 

 Much of the singing of birds, and the crying, calling, ami howling 



