Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-07-29
SUPERSTITION IN ANIMAL S.
some Curious Circumstances Related by
scientific observers-6;isDsts In Cage.

The instructive fear of death mani
tested by birds is shown by the follow
ing: A canary died, was buried. the
nesting establishment broken up. the
surviving mate removed to a new cage.
and the old cage thoroughly cleaned
and put aside till the following spring.
Never, however, could any bird after
ward endure being placed in that
cage They fought and struggled to
get out, and il all in vain their efforts,
they moped, budding close together,
thoroughly unhappy refusing to De
comforted by any amount OF sunshine,
companionship or dainty food. The
experiment was tried with foreign
birds, that had not been in the house
when the death occurred, and could
not, therefore, have known Of the event
by observation. But the result was all
ways the same. For the future that
cage was haunted.
|. is a common belief that many
animals see ghosts and future events.
Kerner declares that they are endowed
with second sight. This faculty is
thought TO be especially strong in dogs
anu uOA NOSs A'Abl As M hubM II W uaN y
foreseen the burning of houses on
which they have been wont to build
their nests, and to have abandoned
them, taking up their abode on other
buildings or on trees in the vicinity.
No sooner had the anticipated con-
fagration taken place, and new house
been erected on the same site. than
they returned and built their nests as
before.
Professor Evans tells some interest
ing stories about dogs in the Popular
Science Monthly. One about a skye
terrier illustrates crude religious
sentiment in some ANIMALS This dog
was prone to amuse himself by tossing
dry bones in the air, apparently play
ing that they were alive On one oe-
casion a fine thread was attached to
one of these bones, invisible to the dog,
and the bone was slowly drawn away
from him. Instantly, says the mar
rator, his whole demeanor changed.
The bone which he had previously
pretended was alive began TO look as
if it really were alive,and his astonish-
ment knew no bounds He first APP
preached it with nervous caution, but.
as the slow receding motion continued
and he became quite certain that the
movement could not be accounted for
by any residuum of force which he
himself communicated, his astonish-
ment developed into dread and he ran
to conceal himself behind or under
some article of furniture, there to be-
hold, lat a distance, the "uncanny" spec
tacle Of dry bone coming to life, thus
manifesJng close observation, judy
ment, reason, Inauguration aud super
stitious fear,
This "superstitious fear" was shown
on another occasion, when apples were
being shot off bags upon the wooden
floor Of an apple room; the sound in
the house closely resembled distant
thunder. A setter was greatly alarmed
at the noise until he was taken to the
apple-room and shown the cause of it.,
after which his dread entirely left him
and the rambling no longer disturbed
him. 1t is added that dogs and horses
can be entirely cured of their fear of
thunder by being present at artillery
practice. Believing they now know
what produces the dreadful roar, they
no longer fear it.