The Discharge of Energy through Stimulation of the Distance Receptors,
or through Representation of Injury (Psychic)


We will now turn from the discussion of the discharge of nervous energy by
mechanical stimuli to the discharge of energy through mental perception.
_Phylogenetic_ association may result from stimulation of the distance
receptors through sight, hearing, smell, or by a representation
of physical experiences, as well as from physical contact.
The effect upon the organism of the representation of injury
or of the perception of danger through the distance receptors is
designated FEAR. Fear is as widely distributed in nature as is its cause,
that is, fear is as widely distributed as injury. Animals under
the stimulus of fear, according to W. T. Hornaday, not only may exhibit
preternatural strength, but also may show strategy of the highest order,
a strategy not seen under the influence of a lesser stimulus.
In some animals fear is so intense that it defeats escape; this is
especially true in the case of birds in the presence of snakes.
The power of flight has endowed the bird with an easy means of escape
from snakes, especially when the encounter is in the tops of trees.
Here the snake must move cautiously, else he will lose his equilibrium;
his method of attack is by stealth. When the snake has stalked
its prey, the bird is often so overcome by fear that it cannot fly
and so becomes an easy victim (Fig. 11). The phenomena of fear
are described by Darwin as follows:

"Fear is often preceded by astonishment, and is so near akin to it that
both lead to the senses of sight and hearing being instantly aroused.