REPOSE, OR SLEEP. 107 



adroitly passed over it. In like manner, snakes 

 slumber on sunny banks, and with caution may 

 be surprised. The same observation applies to 

 the active little lizard of our hedgerows and 

 copses. 



In our species the necessity for sleep varies ; 

 infants pass the greatest portion of their time in 

 sleep, and sink into repose after the reception 

 of nutriment. In very aged persons, a prepon- 

 derating duration of sleep over wakefulness 

 seems necessary ; though to this rule excep- 

 tions are often to be met with. Children and 

 young persons sleep more soundly than persons 

 more advanced in life. There is a tendency to 

 sleep, or at least to rest in quiet after repletion. 

 Animals that chew the cud lie down to rumi- 

 nate. The dog curls himself up and sleeps 

 after a good meal ; and, but that necessity 

 forbids this indulgence in mankind generally, 

 at least among those whose hands are called to 

 labour, we should be apt to imitate our canine 

 companion. Invalids, and persons of feeble 

 delicate frame, require this indulgence, if in 

 their case we can call it indulgence. In hot 

 countries, men and animals take their siesta 

 during the fervid heat of mid-day. Sleep is 

 induced by narcotic medicines, and by extreme 

 cold, which acts as an all-overpowering narcotic, 

 paralysing the energy of the brain and spinal 

 cord, and in no very long time inducing coma, 

 or torpor, and death. In this case, however, as 

 in the results of an over-dose of narcotic drugs, 

 the coma or torpor thereby induced, like the 



