1 8 8 2 . ] Hypnotism in A nimals. ~ 2 1 



very aggravated case of " hypnotism in animals," for certainly the 

 hen and crawfish are entirely eclipsed by the wily marsupial. 



No naturalist will say that we are " free from all thoughts of 

 deception with animals," for I am sure each person present can call 

 to mind many instances of deliberate deception, not only on the 

 part of animals in the restricted sense, but cases of insects simu- 

 lating death appear to be very common. 



Indeed it seems to be an instinct of self-preservation with insects, 

 worms and many others of the lower orders of life, in case of 

 danger to draw up into as small a space as possible and remain 

 perfectly quiet until the danger is passed. 



In the year 1859, while enthusiastically interested in ornithol- 

 ogy, I shot a turkey buzzard {Catliartes aura). The bird was 

 winged, and when approached was standing up under a laurel 

 bush, looking brightly about, one wing hanging. As I came up 

 he first disgorged, then as I continued to approach, his head be- 

 gan to droop to one side, and by the time I reached him he lay upon 

 his side apparently lifeless. Believing that he really was dead, I 

 with difficulty forced him into my game bag and proceeded home, 

 a distance of two miles. He was then taken from the game bag 



My surprise can be imagined when calling out the family to 

 view the capture a moment later, he was found running around 

 the yard as lively as ever. On our approach, however, the same 

 motions were enacted, and again he lay upon his side dead. This 

 routine followed each approach, until after a while he became 

 accustomed to the presence of persons, and then would simply 

 hiss and disgorge. (In the " Birds of the Northwest," 1874, p. 

 383, Dr. Elliott Coues recounts a similar incident.) 



Mr. Nelson informs me that he has witnessed a like action on 

 the part of the wild fjoose when wounded. As soon as it finds 

 escape impossible, it will stretch out its neck and remain stiff and 

 immovable, so that it may be handled in this condition, the mus- 

 cles remaining rigid as in catalepsy. If, however, it is not dis- 

 turbed, it will soon begin to peep around and gradually attempt 

 to get away. 



In the case of the opossum, the simulation of death is so per- 

 fect that only the closest examination can determine that life still 

 is present— in the pulsation of the heart and in the almost sup- 

 Pressed respiration. In this condition either the animal has lost 



