72 FEIGNED DEATH OF ANIMALS. 



spring of 1834, I recognized the insect on the even- 

 ing of the 11th of March, in the immediate vicinity 

 (rf Belfast. 



I have often been amused, on taking the common 

 dor beetle, at observrag the manner in which it feigns 

 death. Its legs are set out perfectly stiff and im- 

 moveable, which is its posture when really dead, and, 

 no matter how much it is tossed about in the hand, 

 it will not, by the slightest movement, betray its 

 stratagem. The only way to restore its acti^'ity is 

 to allow it to remain for a minute or two undis- 

 turbed. It is said by this procedure to deceive the 

 rooks, which feed upon it, but which do so only 

 when their captive is alive. A curious example of 

 a similar instinct in birds is given in the " Time's 

 Telescope" for 1833: — "A gentleman had a corn- 

 crake brought to him by his dog : it was dead to all 

 appearance. As it lay on the ground he turned it 

 over with his foot : he was convinced that it was 

 dead ; standing by, however, some time in silence, 

 he suddenly saw it open an eye. He then took it 

 up ; its head fell, its legs hung loose, it appeared 

 again totally dead. He then put it in his pocket, 

 and before very long he felt it all alive, and struggling 

 to escape. He took it out : it was as lifeless as 

 before. He then laid it upon the ground, and re- 

 tired to some distance ; in about five minutes it 



