METHODS OF DEFENCE. 69 



me, since, if deatli-feigning is simply a cunning habit, 

 the animal could not suffer itself to be mutilated with- 

 out wincing. I can only believe that the fox, though 

 not insensible, as its behaviour on being left to itself 

 appears to prove, yet has its body thrown by extreme 

 terror into that benumbed condition which simulates 

 death, and during which it is unable to feel the 

 tortures practised on it. The swoon sometimes 

 actually takes place before the animal has been 

 touched, and even when the exciting cause is at a 

 considerable distance."^ 



It is probably a measure of prudence which impels 

 certain birds to imitate successively the cries of neigh- 

 bouring animals, in order to persuade their enemies 

 that all the beasts in creation are brought together in 

 this spot except themselves. It is perhaps going a 

 little too far to suppose so reflective and diplomatic 

 a motive, but it is not doubtful that in certain cases 

 this custom can be very useful to them by putting 

 their enemies on the wrong scent. In North America 

 nearly all the species of the Cassique family have this 

 custom. If they wish to deceive the ears of the great 

 Falcons who watch them — or is it simple amusement ? 

 — they interrupt their own song to introduce the most 

 varied melodies. If a sheep bleats, the bird immedi- 

 ately replies to the bleating ; the clucking of a turkey, 

 the cackling of a goose, the cry of the toucan are 

 noted and faithfully reproduced. Then the Cassique 

 returns to his own special refrain, to abandon it anew 

 on the first opportunity.^ 



Not only do animals thus feign death in order to 

 secure their own safety, but the female sometimes 



1 W. H. Hudson, Naturalist in /.a Plata, p. 203. 



" Watetton, Wanderings in South America (First Journey), ch. iii. 



