182 WASTE-LAND WAXDERIXGS. 



the mice were active, and fed heartily upon bread- 

 crumbs placed near their nest. Now why, it may be 

 asked, did they not seek out a cooler retreat in the 

 woods near by? I can only suggest that the supposed 

 aestivating condition was not inconvenient nor unpleas- 

 ant, and that it was preferable to the abandonment of 

 their nest, w^hich was suited to their needs for all time, 

 except such extraordinary spells of hot weather. Either 

 these mice were excessively stupid, or a dormant condi- 

 tion, caused by excessive heat, was nothing unusual with 

 them. 



There is in this instance a marked difference from a 

 hibernating sleep, in that the period of dormancy w^as 

 of but a few hours' duration ; but was like the torpid 

 slumber of a hibernating animal, in that the condition 

 was one from which it was not possible to arouse them, 

 as from ordinary slumber. The awakening had to come 

 from a change of temperature ; and just in proportion as 

 the evenings were warm, the mice were tardy in return- 

 ing to consciousness. To more effectually test this, I 

 carefully removed these mice from the field, and placed 

 them near a stove, so that the mid -day temperature 

 could be maintained. The result was the continuance 

 of the dormant condition for eighty-four hours. 



When the effect of a protracted drought and heated 

 terms upon our animals has been more fully worked out, 

 I believe it will be found that many a mouse and other 

 small mammal which is found lying dead, as supposed, 

 is really not in a moribund but dormant condition, and 

 if left undisturbed would revive. But what other evi- 

 dence is there of this ? The wdiite-footed mice are not, 



