530 DECEPTION 



play and in fun pretend to worry each other. The siamang 

 has mock combats with its child playfellows, and the orang, 

 in its romping with boys, engages in mimic scuffles (Cassell). 

 Burns' ' Twa Dogs ' 



Scoured away in long excursion, 

 And worried ither/or Diversion. 



Dogs, too, offer each other mock insults in play, just as they 

 do real ones when they are in serious earnest. Young 

 rhinoceroses bite each other, like young dogs, in mere play. 



Kavens strike or cuff each other in play (White). Mimic 

 wrestling matches occur in young cocks for diversion ; young 

 goats and rams, like young dogs, all in perfect amity, make 

 pretence of biting, attacking, worrying each other. Even 

 young ants have their playful thrusts and wrestlings (Hou- 

 zeau, Huber), their play and pretence. 



All this involves a perception of the distinction between 

 jest and earnest. Unfortunately, just as in children, there is 

 the same tendency in the mimic fights of young cocks or 

 sporting dogs for jest or sport to pass into earnest. And 

 the consequences of such a transition are sometimes quite as 

 serious or sad in other animals as in man. Thus certain 

 old regimental horses that began in all amity the game of 

 Trench and English,' which involved their dividing into two 

 bodies and taking opposite or rival sides, ended by charging 

 each other with determination, rage, fury, ferocity, and 

 genuine animosity, the unfortunate result to some of them 

 being dangerous wounds and even death (' Animal World '). 



In order to theft, to the possession of coveted articles of 

 food especially, the Ehesus monkey feigns or acts sleep, ill- 

 ness, play, insensibility or preoccupation (Cassell). For the 

 purpose of concealing their guilt, of throwing their human 

 masters off the scent, and of disarming their suspicions, dogs 

 and cats are capable of assuming the look and aspect, atti- 

 tude or behaviour of innocence. Thus Mrs. Burton mentions 

 a female bull pup of hers in Syria that, after a sly bite at the 

 leg of a Jew, e when no one was looking, .... instead of 

 running away, sat looking the picture of innocence,' by both 

 actions showing an obvious consciousness of wrong-doing 

 and its consequences. Demureness may be real, but it is also 



