824 



Miiminals arc l>-itli lunluriial and diurnal. Tli(> 

 (rrav Sqiiimd, Cliipniiuiks, Woodrhwck and Kcd Siiiiir 

 rels sL><Mn 1o nuivi' about more in tho davlinio llian anv 

 otIuMs; and Dr. Meiiiaui says the Gray Squirrel and 

 Chipnmuk are llio only two "that have not been swn 

 after nightfall." 



The Kacccffli, Skunk>^, P.ats and Flyin- Squirrels are 

 deeidetlly noclurnal in their habits; but. as Dr. Mer- 

 riani states: 



"Even these are occasionally seen abroad during cloudy days, 

 and do much of their hunting in the twilight. The truth of 

 the matter seems to be that very few mammals range about 

 much during the brightest part of the day, or darkest part of 

 the night, these being the times when most of them do the 

 greater part of their sleeping. It is between the dark and thu- 

 daylight, before sunrise in the morning and in the dusk of 

 evening, when the faint light obscures their outlines and hides 

 their movements, that the larger number do their hunting. 

 Many of them are also out during cloudy days and moonlight 

 nights; and in winter, when the ground is white with snow, they 

 apparently circumambulate all night long." 



SOME ARE SOUND SLEEPERS. 



"The phenomenon of hibernation, which enables many mam- 

 mals to endure a climate to the severity of which they would 

 inevitably succumb were they to remain active throughout the 

 year, and to thrive in regions where they would starve during 

 certain seasons but for their ability to become dormant when 

 scarcity of food prevails, is well exemplified in a number of 

 our species. The foUow-ing are known to pass a greater or less 

 period of the winter season in a condition of lethargy: Tho 

 Hear, Raccoon, Bats. Gray Squirrel, Chipmunk, Woodchuck, 

 and Jumping Mouse. Of these the Woodchuck (Ground Hog) 

 affords the most remarkable example. With astonishing reg- 

 ularity and precision, and utterly regardless of the state of 

 weather or condition of his food supply, he sinks into his bur- 

 row about the 20th of September,* and is rarely seen again be- 



*In some sections of Pennsylvania this animal does not re- 

 tire to winter quarters, it is said, before the middle of October, 

 and he Is often seen in the early part of March and sometimes 

 In February.— B. H. Warren, 



