DR. TH. NEUMANN. 99 



What is more remarkable and less explicable, however, 

 is the often noted fact that under certain circumstances 

 small quadrupeds and birds, when seeing a dangerous 

 snake, are not only unable to withdraw from it, but are 

 apparently tempted to get nearer and nearer from a 

 place of comparative safety into imminent danger. 

 Should we blame observers who happening to look upon 

 such scenes have ascribed the mysterous behavior of 

 those little animals to some peculiar power or influence 

 emanating from the eye of the lurking enemy and forc- 

 ing the poor victim to rush literally into the jaws of 

 death ? But even such an occurrence may be explained 

 without referring it to supernatural powers. We know 

 that birds have often sacrificed their own lives in order 

 to save their young — why could we not assume such a 

 case ? The mother may have tried to attract the atten- 

 tion of the poisonous reptile and fallen a prey to its self- 

 sacrificing love. We may also assume that the animal 

 acting so strangely has already been wounded and 

 becoming weak, falls down ; meanwhile eagerly watched, 

 by the greedy eye of its murderer. In most cases, how- 

 ever, even when such explanations cannot be given, we 

 may take it for granted that any animal suddenly find- 

 ing itself within the reach of a deadly foe, seeing no hope 

 of escape, will be paralyzed, will loose all its energy and 

 be in many cases unable to do what it would have done 

 if it had had time for consideration. I myself have gone 

 through such an experience more than once when, while 

 rambling over mountains and hills, or while lying down 

 in the grass for a little rest, I saw unexpectedly a viper 

 close by on the ground very near my face, watching me 

 with seemingly intense interest, ready to strike at the 

 least motion I should make. I must declare plainly 

 that I felt rather uncomfortable. I knew that the 

 slightest provocation would induce the animal to inflict 

 its blow, and yet I felt that I could not stand that im- 



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