182 WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



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 

 activating condition was not inconvenient nor unpleas- 

 ant, and that it was preferable to the abandonment of 

 their nest, which 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 was 

 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 white-footed mice are not, 



