THE REPOSE OF NATURE 206 



The hedgehog, too, is another of our hibernating 

 animals, coiling itself np in a warm nest in some hollow 

 tree, or mider the gnarled and projecting roots, and 

 occasionally seeking a domicile in a deserted rabbit- 

 burrow or disused fox-hole. All these three creatures 

 may be foimd sleeping in their homes, and are thus 

 easily captured. 



As all these animals awake at intervals diu-ing the 

 winter, and partake of nourishment, they are said to be 

 partial hibemators, the best British examples of perfect 

 hibernation being exhibited by those singular winged 

 quadrupeds which we call bats. 



If in winter we explore the recesses of almost any 

 hollow tree, any dark crevice in the rocks, or any old 

 deserted building, there we shall find, hanging by their 

 hind legs or gathered closely into thick clusters, some 

 bats, sunk in the deepest lethargy, and giving but 

 slight indications of life. All through the winter hang 

 the bats, with scarcely a movement of head or limb, 

 and, unlike the preceding animals, they never awake to 

 seek nourishment, as there would be none for them. 



There seems to be no creatTire which spends so much 

 of its time in sleep as the bat. Not only does it lie 

 dormant throughout the winter, but it passes daily into 

 that strange state of drowsiness which is more than 

 sleep, though not quite so deep as in winter. 



It is a popular but very erroneous notion, that this 

 torpor is caused by cold. Now, if this were the case, 

 tbe hibernating animals would place themselves in some 



