DEATH AND ITS DISGUISES. 437 



V. 



Many spiders have the habit, which belongs to certain insects and pre- 

 vails even among the vertebrates, of feigning death. This habit, which 

 is common among many species of spiders, appears to be par- 

 F e . a . ticularly developed in the Orb weavers. One who touches an 

 Orb weaver when hanging upon its web will often be surprised 

 to see it suddenly cast itself from the snare, or appear to drop from it, as 

 though shot off by some unseen force. Unless he understands the nature of 

 the creature, he will be utterly at a loss to know what has become of it. 

 In truth, it has simply dropped upon the ground by a long thread which 

 had been instantaneously emitted, and had sustained the aranead in its 

 remarkable exit, so that its fall was not only harmless but its return to 

 the web assured. If the creature be now examined it will be found mo- 

 tionless. Its legs are drawn up around the body, and to the inexperienced 

 eye it has the external semblance of death. In this condition it may be 

 handled, it may be turned over, it may be picked up, and, for a little 

 while at least, will retain its death like appearance. 



It has been conjectured that this behavior is simply the result of fear, 

 and is largely beyond the volition of the spider. It is a case, in other 

 words, of what has been called kataplexy, or fear paralysis. It is, per- 

 haps, difficult to disprove this theory, but I can by no means accept it. To 

 me it seems a case of genuine " 'possuming," if I may use a term which 

 was commonly applied in the West, during my boyhood, to characterize 

 all shamming or feigning among our associates. 



Dr. Preyer, of Jena, has published his experiments on animals while 

 under the influence of sudden fright, 1 the general trend of which is to 

 show that unconsciousness is the resulting state. I do not know 

 Preyer s w h a t value these experiments may have with experts in that 

 lex general field of research, but I cannot accept the conclusion as 



to spiders. Mr. Campbell, however, appears to favor the theory. 2 

 Examples will occur to every one, of wild animals met in walks through 

 the woods or fields, suddenly -pausing as though the fir,st appearance 

 of a supposed enemy had shocked them into inaction. A child falls, and, 

 though not hurt, loses himself for a few seconds. When regaining con- 

 sciousness he bursts out into a loud roar. Many moths never attempt to 

 fly when touched, and the white ermine, the satin, the swallow tail, and 

 the mal? ghost moth will fall as if paralyzed when a net is swept under 

 them at night while on the wing. The clouded yellow butterfly will drop 

 as if lifeless when closely pursued. Many species of beetles are inimitable 

 death feigners, as most boys know who have any knowledge of field life. 



1 Samlung physiologischer Abhandlungen, Zweite Reihe, Erster Heft, 1878. 



2 Observations on Spiders, page 46. 



