504 Canadian Record of Science. 



nation of the various theories relating to feigning death and 

 injury by animals, especially in the light of the writer's 

 own study of the Bed Squirrel. He believes that the 

 expression, " feigning death," is in a large proportion of 

 cases misleading, the behaviour exhibited being explicable 

 by the influence of fear or other powerful emotion ; in other 

 cases, cataleptic influences are to be taken into account. 

 Animals, when in danger, naturally remain quiet from 

 instinct, or a vague perception that it is the best way to 

 escape notice. It is erroneous to assume that an animal 

 forms any abstract idea of death in such cases. 



The writer relates in minute detail the histories of cases 

 of feigning injury, etc., in the Chickaree, observed by 

 himself, which show that, in addition to the above noted 

 instinctive behaviour, deliberate feigning was practised in 

 a way which led to successful escape from confinement. 

 The circumstances indicated that there was the clear yer- 

 ception of relations new to the animals, and adaptation of 

 means to accomplish ends. The Chipmunk does not seem 

 to be capable of this, though it appears to become cataleptic 

 from fear sometimes. Experiments with traps had also 

 shown the great superiority of the intelligence of the 

 Chickaree over that of the Chipmunk. 



Dr. Bell's appendix deals especially with the Chickaree : 

 its geographical distribution ; feeding habits, and intelli- 

 gence connected therewith ; its courage and adaptability to 

 its varying surroundings, etc. 



The Meeting of the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science. 



This, the thirty-sixth meeting, with Professor Langley 

 as President, was held in the buildings of Columbia College, 

 New York, in August. In numbers and in papers pre- 

 sented, the meeting was at least up to tha average. While 

 credit is due to the authorities and teachers of Columbia 

 College, to certain local scientific clubs, to the local com- 

 mittee and some others, for their efforts on behalf of the 



