Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-06-04
ANIMALS SHAM DEATH.
Fear Was Perhaps Responsible for Two
Strange Incidcnts.

Fear Was Perhaps Responsible for Two
Strange Incidents.
Two cases are on record Of foxes be-
ing discovered in hen houses. In each
case the fox not only completely de-
ceived the finder, but allowed himself
to be dragged out by the brush and
thrown down, in the one case in field
and in the other dunghill, says the
Scotsman. In each instance the fox
then jumped up and ran away. An
other example is that of fox which
dangled across a mans shoulder as 1t
allowed itself to be carried along road
for more than a mile. At last 1t bit
the man and was promptly dropped.
A cat was observed to carry a weasel
home in its mouth, the weasel dang
ling helplessly. The door of the house
was closed and the cat, in conformity
with its usual habit, mewed to gain ad
mission. To NEW, however, it had to-
set down the weasel, which jumped up
and fastened on its nose. The follow
ing instance was observed by the late
Prof. Romanes: A corncrake had been
retrieved by dog, and, having every
appearance of being dead, was put in
the mans pocket. Presently violent
struggles were felt and the man drew
the bird out. To his establishment 1t
again hung in his hand limp and ap-
parently lifeless. It was then set upon
the ground and watched from behind
some cover. In short time it raised
its head, looked around and decamped
at full speed. A singular fact that
must not be overlooked in connection
with this phenomenon is that some an
imals have been found to be actually
dead which were at first thought to be
shamming. Romanes, for instance.
found this to be the case with a SPUR
rel which he had caught in cloth.
and with which he wanted to expert
ment with regard to the feigning Of
death. Sir E. Tennent also relates, In
his book on the Natural History of
Ceylon," that the wild elephant some
times dies when being taken from the
corral by tame elephants. Further, he
WINGED that an elephant was dead, he
had its lashings taken off, he and a
friend leaning against it the while to
rest. Hardly had they left it when it
rose hurriedly and, trumpeting vocif-
erously, rushed off in the jungle. The
fact, however, that squirrel or an ell
ephant when captured unhurt will die
is sufficient to show that most power
full nervous arrangement of some sort
Is induced. When the late Joseph
Thomson lectured on his African ex-
perience he related how the first buff
falo he shot tossed him and how, when
he came to himself and tried to sit up,
he found his antagonist glazing at him
few yards away. He told how he
recollected that buffalo does not try
to toss creature which shows no signs
Of life, and how he let his head sink
slowly back and lay shamming dead.
Pheasants, in flying across wide
stretches of water, have been noticed
suddenly to fall. In this way they are
apparently drowned. 1t is perhaps dan
gerous to assert positively that fear is
here the active cause of death yet we
are apparently justified in believing
that paroxysm of fear can produce
sudden death. The squirrel and the
elephant may have died in fright; GER
tainly death in man can be produced by
sudden fear, and, although man has 4
much more sensitive nervous mechan-
ism, the lower animals have an ex-
tremely active instinct of fear. Prof.
Lloyd Morgan mentions the case of a
surfaceman working in the Severn tun-
mel, who was nearly killed by train.
1t is stated that "his attention was SO
riveted that he was unable to make, or
rather he felt no desire to make the
appropriate movements" he could
not help watching the rain, but felt no
terror. With the greatest difficulty he
managed to shake himself free of his
fascination. In describing his feelings
when the danger is past he is reported
to have said, 81 came over all cold
sweat and felt as helpless as baby.
I was frightened enough then" This
may perhaps be taken as a cataleptic
condition without fear