once
recovered if it had been disposed to do so. Again, I think that I have
never noticed anything like that gradual emergence from the
kataplectic condition which one would naturally expect if the act were
not a voluntary one. On the contrary, the spider invariably recovered,
immediately sprang upon its legs, and hoisted itself to its snare, or
ran vigorously away among the grasses."[41]

[40] _Sammlung physiologischer Abhandlungen_, Zweite Reihe,
Erster Heft, 1878.

[41] H. C. McCook, _American Spiders_ (1889, etc.), vol. ii.
pp. 437-445. Romanes has an interesting discussion of the
habit of feigning death among animals, and cautiously
reaches the conclusion that it is very largely due, not to
kataplexy, but to intelligent action.--_Mental Evolution in
Animals_, pp. 303-316. And for some remarks on this subject
by Darwin in his Essay on Instinct, see the same volume, pp.
365, 366. Also Alix, _Esprit de nos Betes_, 1890, pp.
543-548.

Among fish, the Perch and the Sturgeon feign death; according to
Couch,[42] the Landrail, the Skylark, the Corncrake adopt the same
device. Among mammals, the best-known example is probably the Opossum.

[42] _Illustrations of Instinct_, 1847.

An Opossum (_Didelphys azarae_) of South America enters farms to
devastate the poultry yards. When he is discovered he runs away, but
is soon caught, and blows from sticks rain upon him. Seeing that he
cannot escape correction he seeks at least to save his life. Letting
his head fall and straightening his inert legs he receives the blows
without flinching. Often he is considered dead, and abandoned. The
cunning little beast, who desires nothing better, arises, shakes
himself, and rather bruised, but at all events alive, takes his way
back to the wood.

The Argentine Fox (_Canis azarae_), when caught in a trap or run down
by dogs, though it fights savagely at first, after a time drops down
and apparently dies. "When in this condition of feigning death," Mr.
W. H. Hudson remarks, "I am quite sure that the animal does not
altogether lose consciousness. It is exceedingly difficult to discover
any evidence of life in the opossum, but when one withdraws a little
way from the feigning fox, and watches him very attentively, a slight
opening of the eye may be detected; and, finally, when left to
himself, he does not recover and start up like an animal that has been
st