into the air, and, if the shock has been violent, fall down stunned, amongst the rest. Others, less injured, but mad with pain and terror, lash out with their heels, or gallop wildly about, no longer avoiding their fellows, and seeming to have lost the sense of direction. Dashing together, one horse is flung down by another—others fall over them—they lie struggling in heaps. Many break back, or reach the further shore, but each time that they do so, and strive to leave the pool, they are driven into it again by the Indians, and shock after shock continues to be poured in amongst them. Each one, however, is weaker than the last, till, at length, no more effect is produced, and the scene, though still wild and disorderly, becomes partially relieved of its horrors. Then, and not till then, are the terrified animals—all those, that is to say, that are capable of doing so—allowed to leave their inferno, after which the Indians enter it, and secure the now powerless eels, many of which have been more or less injured by the trampling of the horses’ hoofs. Such is the account given by Humboldt, which was given to him by the Indians. It is right to add that it has not yet been confirmed, so that many now hold it to be untrue, and think that the great naturalist and traveller must have been imposed upon. One professor, who writes very learnedly of the gymnotus, and other electric fishes—for there are some other ones—is so sure of this, that he thinks it high time this story of Humboldt’s were forgotten. Well, I tried to forget it, but I found it was too picturesque. So I have remembered it, and forgotten the professor’s own treatise, instead—which was much the easier thing to do. CHAPTER XII PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE IN NATURE—SPIDERS THAT LOOK LIKE ANTS—A TRAP TO CATCH A BUTTERFLY—FALSE DEVOTEES—LEAF, STICK, AND GRASS-RESEMBLING INSECTS—“CUCULLUS NON FACIT MONACHUM.”