The Wit of the Wild 



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water, and not only has many an animal walked 

 or swam within his reach without a thought of 

 his presence, but man himself is frequently de- 

 ceived. 



Very different in circumstances, but the same 

 in intent, is the disguise of the sloth as a bunch 

 of " old man's beard " moss, for as he hangs 

 after his manner from the underside of a limb 

 in a Brazilian forest, his coarse gray hair so 

 perfectly resembles the mossy draping of the 

 trees that no casual eye would suspect that a 

 living animal was there in place of it. 



It is among insects, crabs, etc., that the most 

 perfect disguises are found, as also are the 

 most perfect cases of " mimicry," by which term 

 we may distinguish those resemblances which 

 imitate some other creature for which it is to 

 an animal's advantage to be mistaken. 



Occasionally in late summer, when my eyes 

 are fixed, perhaps in idle gaze, upon a bush, 

 I am startled to see a twig suddenly walk off, 

 and thus I find I have been looking at a walking- 

 stick insect without seeing it. This is a relative 

 of the grasshopper which is drawn out until 



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