5^ PHILOSOVHY OI ZOOLOGY. 



absolute repose, to give four signs of respiration. Spal- 

 LANZANi, not aware of these periodical intervals of repose, 

 could not discover any signs of respiration. Indeed, when 

 their temperature is reduced to about 47°, this function does 

 not appear to be exercised. 



The dormouse, when in a torpid state on the 27th De- 

 cember, exhibited a languid respiration of one hundred and 

 forty times in forty-two minutes. On the tenth of January, 

 the thermometer being at 43°, it respired at intervals in 

 the following manner, according to Mangili. 



Intervals of repose. Number of consecutive respirations. 



5 minutes 16 



4 30 



3 29 



2 29 



12 5 



9 10 



10 6 



13 18 



12 28 



12 8 



In some instances, the intervals of repose or suspended 

 respiration lasted sixteen minutes. 



Mangili also found the fat dormouse {Myoxus glis), 

 when in a torpid state on the 27th December, and when 

 the thermometer indicated 40°, to respire at intervals. Af- 

 ter every four minutes of repose, it respired from twenty- 

 two to twenty-four times every minute and a half. The 

 thermometer being raised one degree of Reaumur, the in- 

 tervals became only three minutes. The temperature being 

 reduced to 37°, the intervals of repose became four minutes, 

 and the consecutive respirations t>v'enty to twenty-six. The 



