194 
NATURE NOTES 
A worm, which is low in the scale of creation, is not generally supposed to be 
a highly sensitive animal ; and yet when in great pain will expose itself to almost 
certain death in its endeavours to escape. I once noticed a large earthworm 
huniedly leave its hole and throw itself with every sign of agony on the open 
pathway, where it was liable to be picked up by the first bird that came along. 
It had been attacked underground by a rove beetle. The worm seemed to 
prefer the risk of instant death to the pain caused by the beetle’s powerful jaws, 
which it dragged along with it in its struggles. 
Many creatures supposed to have some of their “senses missing ” are not so 
insensitive as people often think. Worms have neither eyes nor ears, and yet are 
sensitive to light and music (vide Darwin’s “Earthworms”). A bluebottle, 
in spite of not having a nose, finds out a piece of bad meat easily enough. In 
short, many of the lower animals contrive to see, hear, taste, or smell sufficiently 
for their purpose, and often in a high degree, without our being able to point to 
any special organs of these senses in their bodies : and to suppose they are devoid 
of a sense because we are unable to discover it is frequently to confess our own 
ignorance. 
I have read Livingstone’s account of his sensations when in the clutches of a 
lion, quoted by Mr. Smallman. Livingstone seems to have been stunned or 
deadened for a time ; but how long did that feeling last ? He was soon rescued. 
Are we to suppose from this that a mouse continues to feel stunned all the time a 
cat plays with it — a performance that sometimes lasts two or three hours ? 
I once read an account of two natives in India being sprung upon by a tigress, 
one of whom escaped to a tree and was a witness of his comrade’s fate. The 
tigress dragged the man into the open, and placing herself between him and all 
possible retreat, called from the jungle her two cubs, which she incited to attack 
her victim, and taught how to act. Several times did he, crawling on all fours, 
with the cubs tearing at his flesh, attempt to approach the tree in which his fellow' 
had taken refuge, and to whom he vainly cried for help. Whenever he neared 
the tree the tigress dragged him back. After a time his struggles and entreaties 
ceased and he was devoured. This poor native’s behaviour goes to show that the 
sensation of being deadened to all pain and fear, such as Livingstone experienced, 
soon passes off ; that the instinct of self-preservation, so necessary in all creatures 
to prevent extinction, reasserts itself, and the victim then realises the horror and 
agonies of the situation. 
If we once get into our heads the notion that vast numbers of the lower 
creatures are almost, if not entirely, insensitive to pain, we shall not know where 
to draw the line. We shall be in great danger of becoming callous to their suffer- 
ings, and their claims of mercy at the hands of man. 
Market Weston, Thetford. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
July, 1903. 
26 . Animals (p. 175). — A lady speaks of “ insect, bird, or animal.” 
Will she kindly permit me to say that four-footed beasts are animals, that birds 
are animals, and that insects are animals. 
Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
27 . White Stoats.— The gamekeeper’s statement (p. 95) that w'hite coats 
in winter are found on female stoats only is confirmed by “Lord Lilford on 
Birds,” p. 31, where it is said that the “white and pied stoats are exceptionally 
rare here ; but four out of some nine of these little beasts, brought to me during 
the last few weeks, have been more or less white, one very nearly quite white. 
All these varieties were of the gentler sex.” It is probable that the coats of the 
females are affected by less cold than those of the males, and that only in very 
cold climates both sexes become ermines. 
August, 1903. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
28 . Birds of Prey (p. 175). — Jays sometimes visit my premises in search 
for young birds. I have seen a jay pursue a fledgling on the wing, drive it to the 
ground, and devour it. This is a common habit with British crows. Attempts 
to convict cuckoos of being “ cannibals ” have hitherto failed. They are very 
useful birds, feeding on insects, and especially on hairy caterpillars. There has 
been no lack of insect food in these parts this year, but rather the reverse. 
August, 1903. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
