ON MIMICRY AND DECEPTION 



consists not only in appearance, but they are carried out 

 by actions as unmistakable as they often prove success- 

 ful. For instance, those who have witnessed the perform- 

 ance of the female of the peewit, and many other birds, to 

 allure you from the nest will call to mind the cunning 

 artifice so skilfully played. Of this a good example may 

 be found as applied to the ostrich in Andersson's Lcihe 

 Kgami, p. 254, plate 7. 



Many insects and reptiles feign death, and well-recorded 

 instances are not wanting in this deception succeeding in 

 the higher animals. One of the means of escape adopted, 

 and urgently recommended in Sweden for the safety of the 

 hunter, should he fall into the power of a bear, is to hold 

 his breath and feign death. Wild caught birds, such as 

 goldfinches, linnets, and the like, when taken out of the 

 trap and handled for a short time, will remain perfectly 

 quiet and may be laid on their backs in the palm of the 

 hand ; and while watched, remain motionless ; but no 

 sooner do they find they are unobserved, than they will 

 fly off. 



Sometimes the most helpless and inoffensive creature in 

 fear will assume an aggressive and angry expression, and 

 one of the most ludicrous sights is to behold a common 

 lobster immediately after casting his shell ; his soft and 

 swollen body and limbs are in great danger should he 

 meet one of his own species in a perfect and hungry con- 

 dition. When this happens he raises his large claws and 

 makes sundry darts and starts towaz'ds his adversary, in 

 the hope of driving him away. It not unfrequently 

 happens, however, that his efforts are unavailing, and his 

 opponent closes upon our soft and watery friend, and 

 makes a hearty meal off his tender and juicy limbs. 



Reference was made above to the observations of Mr. 

 Alfred R. Wallace, and the following extract from his 



339 



