Re: [Phys-l] [tap-l] reflections

["John M Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

Yes, cats can see the image in a mirror.  It is really cute to see 
them try to interact with the cat in the mirror, or look behind the 
door for the cat they see in a full length door mirror.  After a while 
they learn to ignore the image.  They will also occasionally react to 
images on TV.

Incidentally bats can perceive and follow the motion of fan blades. 
When the fan is set at low speed bats can dive the fan and fly 
between the blades without harm.  At high speed they know enough to 
fly over the blades.  I don't recall bats crashing into windows, but I 
suppose they might do that.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX


> Can a cat see their image in a mirror? What about birds? If the 
> answer is that
> birds do, then why do they keep smacking into windows. Could it have 
> something
> to do with momentum? Or the lack of the force needed in the short 
> time from
> when they see themselves in the mirror and the time of collision? 
> And to think
> they keep doing it, if they are not killed in the collision. I 
> repeat, an
> "intelligence" thing?
>
> Now who will be the first to train some birds to put the brades on 
> before they
> hit the window?
>
> Dick
>
>
> On Tue, 02 May 2006 21:53:35 -0400, Anthony Lapinski wrote
> > After reading the NY Times article, I recalled reading somewhere 
> > (years
> > ago) that no animal recognizes its reflection in a mirror. This is
> > certainly true with my two cats! But I am wondering if it's true 
> > with
> > other species (e.g., domesticated birds), and if so, why? An
> > "intelligence"thing?
> >
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