unned, but slowly and cautiously raises his head first, and only
gets up when his foes are at a safe distance. Yet I have seen
_guachos_, who are very cruel to animals, practise the most barbarous
experiments on a captive fox without being able to rouse it into
exhibiting any sign of life. This has greatly puzzled me, since, if
death-feigning is simply a cunning habit, the animal could not suffer
itself to be mutilated without wincing. I can only believe that the
fox, though not insensible, as its behaviour on being left to itself
appears to prove, yet has its body thrown by extreme terror into that
benumbed condition which simulates death, and during which it is
unable to feel the tortures practised on it. The swoon sometimes
actually takes place before the animal has been touched, and even when
the exciting cause is at a considerable distance."[43]

[43] W. H. Hudson, _Naturalist in La Plata_, p. 203.

It is probably a measure of prudence which impels certain birds to
imitate successively the cries of neighbouring animals, in order to
persuade their enemies that all the beasts in creation are brought
together in this spot except themselves. It is perhaps going a little
too far to suppose so reflective and diplomatic a motive, but it is
not doubtful that in certain cases this custom can be very useful to
them by putting their enemies on the wrong scent. In North America
nearly all the species of the Cassique family have this custom. If
they wish to deceive the ears of the great Falcons who watch them--or
is it simple amusement?--they interrupt their own song to introduce
the most varied melodies. If a sheep bleats, the bird immediately
replies to the bleating; the clucking of a turkey, the cackling of a
goose, the cry of the toucan are noted and faithfully reproduced. Then
the Cassique returns to his own special refrain, to abandon it anew on
the first opportunity.[44]

[44] Waterton, _Wanderings in South America_ (First Journey), ch. iii.

Not only do animals thus feign death in order to secure their own
safety, but the female sometimes endeavours to attract an enemy's
attention and feigns to be wounded in order to decoy him away from her
young. This trick is adopted especially by birds. In illustration of
this it will be sufficient to quote from Bendire's _Life Histories of
North American Birds_ some observations by Mr. Ernest Thompson of
Toronto, regarding the Canadian Ruffled Grouse (_Bonasa umbellus
toga