358 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



making. In Europe the hedge-hog 6 (an insectivorous animal) is most 

 complete. It retires to a hole among rocks, under a tangled mass of 

 roots of trees or sometimes into an old disused drain, there it remains 

 for the winter, seldom or never awakens until spring, and during this 

 time it takes no food. In Canada it wakens to eat. If disturbed, it 

 draws a deep sononous breath, followed by a few weak respiratory move- 

 ments, returning almost immediately to its deep state of torpor and 

 quiescence. The tuerec, an allied animal, found in Madagascar, sleeps 

 similarly in its burrow for three months during the hottest period of 

 the year. 



None of the American (or European) squirrels truly hibernate 7 

 except the chipmunks (Entamicse) and the ground squirrels (sper- 

 mophiles). 



The dormouse hibernates in the strictest form and its torpid condi- 

 tion is much deeper than that of the squirrels, its favorite bed for its 

 long slumber being an old bird's nest or a mass of dried moss or feathers. 

 In captivity, this little animal has been known to sleep for several days 

 during the summer. The myoxus, an allied animal, when brought to 

 Europe from Africa, hibernated in the winter seasons as if it were its 

 usual and natural habit, without sustaining any harm. 



The hare will lie beneath deep snow for several weeks at a time, in a 

 cavity just large enough to contain its body. In a similar manner, 

 sheep, without any apparent injury, have been known to live for several 

 weeks, buried in huge snow drifts or slides. 



All the amphibia hibernate in cold and temperate climes. Land 

 tortoises bury themselves in holes in the ground, while the fresh-water 

 tortoises bury themselves in the mud at the bottom and sides of lakes 

 and ponds. They obtain a deeper condition of torpidity than that of 

 hibernating mammals, digestion and respiration (lung) being entirely 

 suspended. Frogs hibernate in masses in the mud at the bottom of 

 stagnant pools and if awakened from the hibernating state by warmth, 

 can remain underwater, without drowning, considerably longer than 

 they can during the breeding season. That frogs (toads?) can remain 

 in a state of hibernation for an indefinite period remains to be proved, 

 but too many circumstantial accounts have been reported of the dis- 

 covery of live toads in masses of solid coal or rock formations to allow 

 the idea to be dismissed as fabulous. 8 



Eeptiles, fish and batrachians exhibit little change from their usual 



6 Hedge-hog; this term hedgehog is confusing; it is the term applied in 

 Maine and New Brunswick to the common porcupine. 



' In Canada, hoth the porcupine and squirrel store up food for winter con- 

 sumption, rousing themselves at irregular intervals to eat. 



8 " Our common toad hibernates in the ground, as does the wood frog (Rana 

 sylvaticus) and the small jumping frogs (Hyla) . Our newts also hibernate in 

 the ground." — John Burroughs (private communication). 



