Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-02-11
IEONkD

OF the water and. closing its jaws,
shoots upon the insect a long thread
of water-a veritable shower bath
which, falling back, washes the poor
creature into the river, where he has
not long to wait to be devoured. The
remarkable part of this performance
is the accuracy of the iShs aim,
which rarely misses. In lava and
the neighboring countries people
often carefully preserve the toxote in
aQuarfums and amuse themselves by
offering it flies, holding them some
distance off so that it will shoot at
them with it's douche, to the great de-
light Of the spectators
To obtain food another fish, the
chelinous, proceeds in the same way
with salt water. but he is less adroit,
fault which he possesses in common
with many hunters. Yet he is always
persevering. If he misses his aim he
tries again until he succeeds, unless
the insect has withdrawn out of reach.
Lying in wait for prey is practiced
with great skill by a large number of
animals who have learned that in or
der not to Brighten away the crea-
lures which they wish to catch it is
necessary to remain motionIess. This
Is notably the case with crocodiles.
which wait whole days without NOV
lug, hidden in the water or the grass
on the shore. until their prey. deceived
by their apparent quiet. comes to
battle or to Stake his thirst
1t Is also the case with the python
snake that waits hanging from the
trees by his tail SO immovable that
he cannot be distinguished from the
surrounding branches When an ami
mai is about to pass he lets himself
fall upon it.
Various leeches in Africa proceed in
the same manner. In passing through
virginia. forests only too frequently
one hears sudden noise like hail fall
ing on the branches. It is not falling
hail, but leeches which hasten to at
tach themselves to beasts of burden
and to men, from whom they hasten
to suck the blood. They were watch
Ing their chance, perched on the
branches-an odd dwelling place, by
the way-for creatures that are gener-
ally considered aquatic.
The baudroie prefers to catch nv
decoy. This large fish buries itself in
the mud and lets only a sort of small
flag appear, which is fastened to his
nose by the medium of long filament
which floats as the water moves it.
The little fishes in his ueighborhood
hurry toward this flag. thinking they
have to do with an easy prey. When
they are gathered in goodIy number.
disputing over the sweet morsel, the
baudrofe opens his huge mouth and
swallows them without further cere-
mony.
Other animals are more refined and,
Ia the hunt by decoy. prefer to use
traps. It might be supposed that this
method of hunting, which demands a
certain intelliperoe -~o-,lf he prac-
W creatures of high organiza-
ton. This is not so. since the humble
Insects employ it. The larvae of the
ant lion digs on the surface of the
sand a large funnel at the bottom of
which he crouches. every insect
which tries to pass rolls down into the
funnel and reaches the bottom. where
at once 1t is snatched up by the larva.
This is pit hunting. Moreover, if the
victim seems likely to ESCAPE. he
shovels at him quantities of sand.
which makes him fall still more Quick.
Iy-
There exists in Madagascar spider
which, for a long time, puzzled the
naturalists- 1t is noticeable that at
the center of it's web there is a great