FEIGNING DEATH 303 



left side of a particular petal, just over the spot where the 

 larger passage to the nectar is to be found. But, as I have 

 said, I feel that further observation — especially in the way of 

 experiment — of the facts is required before we should be 

 justified in giving a very definite opinion upon the theoretical 

 interpretation of them. All I can say is that, in the present 

 state of our information upon the subject, Mr. Darwin's view, 

 as above stated, appears to be the most probable one that 

 can be taken. We are not much surprised at the instinct of 

 a Ferret in attacking the medulla oblongata of a rabbit, or at 

 that of a Pole-cat in paralyzing frogs and toads by injuring 

 the cerebral hemispheres ;* and in both these cases — so 

 analogous to that which we are now considering — the instinct 

 must have originated bv intelligent observation of the effects 

 of biting these particular parts of the prey. But neither a 

 ferret nor a pole-cat is a particularly intelligent animal, so 

 that we are perhaps too ready to feel surprise at the pos- 

 sibly similar degree of intelligence displayed by insects 

 which belong to the most intelligent group of invertebrated 

 animals. 



Feigning Death. 



It is a matter of common knowledge and wonder that 

 sundry species of animals belonging to different orders and 

 even classes, manifest the instinct, when in danger, of feign- 

 ing death. As it is clearly impossible to attribute this fact 

 to any idea of death and of its conscious simulation on the 

 part of the animals, tin' subject becomes one of importance 

 for us to consider. I shall first give all the facts that I have 

 been able to collect with regard to it, and then proceed to 

 discuss their explanation. 



The most familial- example of the instinct in question is 

 furnished by sundry species •'!' insects and spiders, many of 

 whuh allow themselves to be slowly dismembered, or 

 gradually roasted to death, without betraying the slightest 



movement "Among fish, the captured Bturgeon remains 



quiel and passive in the net, while the perch feigns death 



and Boats on its b;nk."f According to WrangleJ the wild 

 gee e ci Siberia, if alarmed during the moulting season when 



• Sir Am mill / n 1 1 II ii/r tirr , |i. 847, 



+ Couch, lUuttrationi <>/' Inetinet, p. lull, et seq. 

 J Travel* in Siberia, p ,812, I ■• Finns] 



