[A model of "panic" in wild mice (Mus musculus L.)]

Wild mice were submitted in groups of 5, 10 or 20 individuals to more and more pressing and dreadful experimental situations. The smallest groups were the most disturbed, during the longest time; in the groups of 20, a great number of mice clustered closely and they did not attempt to try and fly; in the groups of 10, the mice were very busy exploring all around the walls of the open-field. But, when the mice were in front of a hiding place without the ability of running inside, the alarm gave rise to a general paroxystic disturbance. The behaviour of the wild Mice and that of Man seems very similar when the shock is particularly violent.