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 Lcilze 
Ngami, 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 towards 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 
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