THE FARMER AT HOME. 



129 



originally had five toes, or in other words, two hind toes ; and that if 

 they do not possess this peculiarity now, it is because they have lost 

 it by successive crossings. 



DORKING HENS. 



DORMANT state of animals. We are all accustomed to see a 

 large part of creation, during summer, in great activity, and in winter 

 returning to an apparently inanimate state ; we mean the plants ; but 

 this phenomenon is not common in the case of animals. . There is, 

 however, a small number of animals, which, besides the daily rest 

 that they have in common with most other animals, remain, during 

 some months in the year, in an apparently lifeless state ; at least, in 

 utter inactivity. Except the hedgehog ind the bat, all the mammalia 

 subject to this dormant state, belong to xhe class of digitated animals. 

 They are found not only in cold climates, but in very warm ones ; 

 for instance, the jerboa in Arabia, and the taurick in Madagascar. 



The period of long sleep generally begins when the food of the 

 animal begins to become scarce, and inactivity spreads over the veg- 

 etable kingdom. Instinct, at this time, impels the animals to seek a 

 safe place for their period of rest. The bat hides itself in the dark, 

 or in walls of decayed buildings. The hedgehog envelopes himself 

 in leaves, arid generally conceals himself in fern-brakes. Hamsters 

 6* 



