The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-09
sense Of Locality in Animals.
FROM ne Spectator

FTOW we DDfCtdtDT.
The instinct, as II appears to be, which leads
animals to direct their course to a certain spot
without. so far as we are able TO ascertain, any
previous hint or indication OF guidance demon
stra tes itself In several remarkable ways besides
that OF the migration Night, but In none perhaps
more remarkably than In the case OF the guAnAcO,
a species OF llama OF South America. which resorts
In Immense number TO a certain place to die. n
seems. from the accounts given by Ia irwin aud by
MI. W. II. Hudson, that all the guanacos OF the
southern part OF Patagonia must resort when the
hour Of death approaches 10 a certain spot In q
certain river bed which has become a perfect
mausOleum OF their bones.
Mr.. Hudson has hazarded a very ingenious
hypothesis to account for this sssembla &c In the
common mortuary. He notes, primarily, that Il Is
only the guanacO OF the southern extremity OF the
South American continent that has this habit.
which Is as much as to say that It is a habit re-
stricted 10 descendants OF fOrefatherS who lived nj
one time in an extremely rigorous. SENT Arctic
climate. Mr.. Hudson conIectures that among
these iOrcSathers the instinct grew up, when the
stress OF hunger and cold was very dire and they
felt It's chill setting upon them. OF rcsOrtlng to this
sheltered place In the river bed. where they might
md warmth In their own closely collected number rs,
and possibly food, which would enable them to
Outllve the days OF extreme rigor. BY a continual
survival OF those which betOok Themselves to this
place OF refuge, the race instinct would be formed
Of resorting thither when they felt the tides OF life
running low. This feeling, Mr.. Hudson Arxues.
their descendants arc likely TO experience now at
the approach Of the hour OF dea tn, and In obedience
TO II 10 nOck TO the same resort. But row Il Is no
longer just a passing spell OF extreme cold which
they can hope to survive that leads them ,hlther.
The death call has come. and they must lay their
bones in the common mortuaU.
II Is not in order 20 die" as we so frequently
say. with . very common error In considering tho
ways OF animals, that the EnanacO seeks this place.
IL would be nearer the truth n We were TO say Il
was in order to live The most true account of
all. no doubt, II the hypothesis Is accepted, Is that
II IL with no c~onsciols purpose at all, hut IN me re
obedience TO the inherited ~lnstlnct. thai the Euanaco
resorts to this refuge; End still the hypothesis, for
ali its ingenuity. leaves unanswered the question
(sAve as II 10 answered BY the so called "eKplana
ton" OF the migration highO how the Ruanaco ia
guided 10 this shelter Of Its forefathcrs from the
Antarctic cold.
Yet another instance Of what appears 20 be this
wholly mysterious guidance Is afforded by the we'll
known habit OF the mathematics. In the colder
countries OF their range. 10 assemble together In
great number for Information In caves. II seems
70 be pretty well established that the snakes on
emerging from these caves cover long distances
In their wanderings. that their young are generally
born lAr away from the wlntering place. and yet
that these young, although they do not accompany
their parents or remain with them until the date Of
Information approaches. stln succeed In nRdng their
way 70 the cavps with the greatest certainty.