. Evolution and animal life; an elementary discussion of facts, processes, laws and theories relating to the life and evolution of animals . FIG. 268.—Section of bark of the live-oak tree, with acorns placed on it by the Californiawoodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus bairdii. (From photograph taken at StanfordUniversity, California.) never seen a snake show almost hysterical fear at first sight ofone, and the same kind of feeling is common to most men. Amonkey was allowed to open a paper bag which contained a REFLEXES, INSTINCT, AND REASON 435 live snake. He was staggered by the sight, but afte
. Evolution and animal life; an elementary discussion of facts, processes, laws and theories relating to the life and evolution of animals . FIG. 268.—Section of bark of the live-oak tree, with acorns placed on it by the Californiawoodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus bairdii. (From photograph taken at StanfordUniversity, California.) never seen a snake show almost hysterical fear at first sight ofone, and the same kind of feeling is common to most men. Amonkey was allowed to open a paper bag which contained a REFLEXES, INSTINCT, AND REASON 435 live snake. He was staggered by the sight, but after a whilelie went back and looked again, to repeat the experience. Eachwild animal has its special instinct of resistance or method ofkeeping off its enemies. The stamping of a sheep, the kickingof a horse, the running in a circle of a hare, and the skulkingin a circle of some foxes, are examples of this sort of FIG. 269.—Nestlings of the American bittern, two of a brood of four birds one week old,at which age they showed no fear of man. (Photograph by E. N. Tabor, Meridian,N. Y., May 31, 1898. Permission of Macmillan Co., publishers of Bird Lore.) The play instinct is developed in numerous animals. Tothis class belong the wrestlings and mimic fights of youngdogs, bear cubs, seal pups, and young beasts generally. Catsand kittens play with mice. Squirrels play in the trees. Per-haps it is the play impulse that leads the shrike or butcher birdto impale small birds and beetles on the thorns about its nest,a ghastly kind of ornament that seems to confer satisfactionon the bird itself. The talking of the parrots and their imita-tions of the sounds they hear seem to be of the nature of greater their superfluous energy the more they will of the singing of birds, and the crying, calling, and howling 436 EVOLUTION AND ANIMAL LIFE of other animals, are mere play, although singing p
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