78 WINTER SLEEP OF ANIMALS. 



makes itself an extensive habitation under ground; 

 and in this it shuts itself up, first closing and 

 fortifying all the openings. Here, as the cold 

 weather advances, it feeds upon its stores, and 

 finally becomes torpid ; in this state it remains 

 till the warmth of spring revives it, and fresh food 

 can be found. The marmot burrows a similar 

 house for itself ; but it lays up no provisions, as it 

 becomes torpid at once, and never awakes till late 

 in the spring. y 



Bats retire to caves, the hollows of old trees, or 

 to the chimneys of uninhabited houses ; and in 

 these situations may be found hanging in clusters. 

 The hedge-hog rolls itself up in leaves and dried 

 grass, and conceals itself in hedges ; frogs con- 

 gregate at the bottom of ponds ; lizards hide 

 themselves in the clefts of rocks ; spiders wrap 

 themselves up in their webs ; the common house- 

 fly may always be found in some retired corner ; 

 and snails fasten themselves to crevices in old 

 walls and other similar places. 



Several hybernating animals occasionally awake 

 if a few fine days occur during the cold season. 

 Instinct has, in these cases, taught them to lay 

 up provisions, such as nuts, acorns, and other 

 things : these are either enclosed in their dwell- 

 ing, as in Jie hamster, or placed somewhere con- 

 veniently near. That beautiful little creature, 

 the dormouse, may sometimes, on a mild day, 

 be seen stealing from its nest, warmly lined, and 

 secured against wet, to its granary under the 



