The Simulation of Death 



argy into which insects capable of surviving 

 the winter fall when benumbed by the cold. 



On the contrary, the Buprestis must as 

 far as possible retain his full vitality. The 

 lowering of the temperature must be gentle, 

 very moderate and such that the insect, un- 

 der similar climatic conditions, would retain 

 his powers of action in ordinary life. I have 

 a convenient refrigerator at my disposal. It 

 is the water of my well, whose temperature, 

 in summer, is nearly twenty-two degrees 

 Fahrenheit below that of the surrounding 

 air. 



The Buprestis, in whom I have just pro- 

 duced inertia by means of a few taps, is in- 

 stalled on his back in a little flask which I 

 seal hermetically and immerse in a bucket 

 full of this cold water. To keep the bath 

 as cool as at first, I gradually renew it, ta- 

 king care not to shake the flask in which the 

 patient is lying, in his attitude of death. 



The result rewards my pains. After five 

 hours under water, the insect is still motion- 

 less. Five hours, I say, five long hours; and 

 I might certainly say longer, if my exhausted 

 patience had not put an end to the experi- 

 ment. But this is enough to banish any idea 

 of fraud on the insect's part. Here, beyond 

 a doubt, the insect is not shamming dead. 

 383 



