ADAPTATIONS TO DESEPTS 



IRVING; I thinkthat isveryrarewiththe metabolism diminished 

 to one-third of the normal. But every means possible should be 

 taken to be sure we are dealing with a more or less regular animal. 



HUDSON; Well, they can fly. 



IRVING: Can they take off instantly? 



HUDSON: Oh, yes, if you open the cage a little too laxly, why 

 they are gone. 



KLEIBER; What saves these torpid animals from predators? 

 Is there something which protects them? 



HUDSON: As you may or may not know, a lot of the success of 

 this laboratory in working with Poor-wills is because of human 

 predators who have found torpid Poor-wills on their front lawn and 

 back yard and in the library. This is the way in which we have 

 acquired most of our Poor- wills, and I assume that predation must 

 be rather severe. 



IRVING: Maybe they do not taste good. 



HUDSON; You do not know that until after you have eaten them. 



455 



