The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-10-20

twelve tickled it gently under the
foreleg, and in an instant it drew the
limb close to its side and turned to
avoid a repetition of the experiment.
Again it was tickled under the other
foreleg, and the anne emotion was
| exhibited, the monster twisting about
like an infant to avoid being tickled.
"It is very unusual for snakes to
feign death, but n such incident has
come to my notice. An amateur nat
uralist was collecting in the neigh
borhood of Matawan, N. j., when he
apparently cut off the retreat of a
| comprehend snake. When the natur-
alist got close to it the reptile ap-
peared to be dead. Desiring to make
sure Of this the naturalist circled the
| snake, and was rewarded by discover
ing an unmistakable light issuing
from the reptiles eyes. The appear
ance Of the entire body was that of
| complete relaxation. Thinking to
| capture it, dead or alive. the natural
list looked around for a stick or stone,
but could see none nearer than forty
or fifty feet distant. He cut a stick
from an aspen sapling, leaving 1t
notched at the end. The spot where
he left the reptile, apparently as mo-
~tionless as ever, was marked by a lot
| of cut horse-mint, and when he re-
turned the snake had given him the
slip, and without any doubt resumed
it's interrupted journey toward the
nearby swamp.
Lizards Adept Deceivers.
Lizards are especially addicted to
this habit. Phrynosome Douglassi.
known as the horned or California
toad is widespread over the entire
Western plains, where it very closely
initiates the color Of the soil on which
it lives. They are most bashful ami
mails, when they think they are being
observed, as well as when roughly
treated, depressing their bodies, and,
with closed eyes,, feigning death to
perfection. A little tickling along
the side will bring them to life, how
ever, and please them hugely, they
expressing their fondness for the OPP
Grafton by initiating themselves until
nearly spherical.
"Lecylaenus Darwinii, which Oar
win found in Northern Patagonia, he
says, lives on the bare sand hear the
sea coast, and from it's notified color,
the brownish scales being speckled
with white, yellowish red and dirty
blue, can hardly be distinguished
from the surrounding surface. When
frightened it attempts to avoid discov-
cry by ~feigning death, with out
stretched legs, depressed body and
| closed eyes; If further molested, it
buries itself with great quickness in
the loose sand. This lizard, because
of it's flattened body and short legs,
cannot run quickly
"The gray or sand lizard (Lacerta
agilis) attains a length of from eight
to ten inches, and is common in
Southern Europe. It's movements are
as rapid as a birds. When an at
tempt is made to seize a gray lizard
on the wall, it ,ets itself fall to the
ground, and remains there a moment
immovable before attempting to run,
evidently Stimulating death.
zone species Of mollusk is known
to have this habit. The p~neumodsr-
monidae have a spindle shaped body
and two extensible arms bearing suck
ers. much like those Of the octopus.
They swim strongly, but when touched
by a foreign object roll themselves up
like an armadillo, and, feigning
death, sink until out Of reach of ap-
parent danger.
HOLSTERS less than a year old oc-
casionally exhibit the death feigning
habit, but, strange to relate, the
adults do not practice it. When
stroked lightly with the finger the
young lobster will Immediately stiff
en-, and lie stretched out at the bot
tom of the dish, on it's side or back,
as if paralyzed. 1t will remain in
this position for fifteen or more min
| utes, when it will slowly turn over
and begin to move about. While
lying at the bottom in this state, a
convulsive movement of the swim
merets and a twitching of various
muscles over the body al be detect
ed by close observation. The claws
and legs remain perfectly rigid, how
! ever.
Sea DwelIers Have the Habit.
"In China is found a peculiar little
crab about the size of a large pea. 1t
has received the common name Of
pill making crab,' from it's habit of
taking up moutEfuls of sand, extract
ing the food particles and then eject
ing the sand in the form of little pei
lets or pills. Owing to it's great &C
tivity it is a difficult object to cap
ture. Should n be so unfortunate
as to be captured it will Immediately
curl up and feign death. Should the
crab be put back on the beach in this
condition it will remain motionless
for a short time, when by a twisting
and wriggling movement it rapidly
sinks into the sand and disappears.
"On the dry part of the beach 5
=