48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESVVOLD CLUB 



of cold in inducing torpor is its too well-known power in 

 [)roducing a sleep which has so often resulted in death.* 

 The direct effect of cold on the animal frame is totally 

 different from hibernations. Hibernation is a physiological 

 condition — not the direct effect of cold. Torpor is on 

 the contrary, a pathological condition, and generally only 

 too frequently a fatal one. 



The term hibernation, as I have said, has usually been 

 employed to signify the condition in which certain animals 

 pass the winter season, and I have also said, it is by no 

 means an exact definition. If we may, e.g., credit Cuvier it 

 is not so. He observes with reference to the Tenrecs : 

 " These are nocturnal animals, which pass three months 

 " of the year in a lethargic state, although they are 

 " inhabitants of the torrid zone." Burguiere even asserts 

 that it is "during the great heats that they sleep." The 

 Germans have not only the word Winterschlaf, i)ut also 

 Sommerschlaf — for which Von Humboldt is responsible. 

 If Cuvier be correct it is evident that the state of 

 hibernation in its widest and fullest sense is not necessarily 

 connected with a low degree of tem[)erature ; and yet, 

 strange to say, he writes in another j)lace : " The sole 

 "condition of lethargy is cold and the absence of irritating 

 "causes." How on this sujjposition can we ex()lain the 

 hibernating of numerous insects during our warmest 

 time of the year .'' 



In the sleep of hibernating animals, respiration is more 

 or less diminished, until it almost reaches the vanishing 

 point, and if the temperature be taken, it will l)e found to 

 l)e many degrees lower than if the animal were in a state 

 of activity. The following facts have been observed and 

 recorded. Dr. Todd made careful oljservations in the 

 case of two hedgehogs, which were kept in a temperature 

 varying from 45^ to 50^'. They alternately woke up, took 



And docs inevitably if tlit: dormant cannot lie roused. 



