36 THE PLAY OF ANIMALS. 



may be explained in ways altogether different and more 

 natural, either as produced by genuine reflection and 

 choice, or by experience, instruction, and information; 

 or by practice and imitation; or by a particularly good 

 development of the senses, especially of smell; or by 

 custom and organization; or by reflex action, etc. For 

 example, when the caterpillar uses the fibre which Na- 

 ture provides for building its nest, for hanging itself 

 from a tree and thus eluding the pursuit of its enemies; 

 or when caterpillars shut up in a drawer eat off the paper 

 lining and use it for making a cocoon; or when toads 

 persist in devouring great quantities of ants which taste 

 good but which they can not digest, although they 

 know (?) that pain and illness must be the conse- 

 quence; or when bees passionately consume honey mixed 

 with brandy, which maddens and unfits them for work; 

 w'hen birds build their nests near human habitations 

 for the purpose of using material such as thread and 

 woollen scraps; or when, according to the observations 

 of G. H. Schneider, certain crustaceans in captivity 

 use bits of cloth and paper to hide under in the ab- 

 sence of weeds, though when both are present their 

 choice is always in favour of the vegetable substance; 

 or when bees, presented with a set of prepared cells, stop 

 building cells and carry their honey to the finished ones; 

 or when birds prefer an artificial nest box or an appro- 

 priated nest to the product of their own skill; or when 

 ants seize strange nests in the same way and establish 

 themselves comfortably there instead of building for 

 themselves; or when many kinds of bees, instead of col- 

 lecting their own honey, get a supply by robbing other 

 hives; or when animals imitate the voice or the cries 

 of other animals happening to be near for purposes of 

 defence or enticement — in these and a thousand similar 



