Hybernation. 363 



progress upwards, and their stems lost their bright and cumulous ap- 

 pearance. But their caps still continued to approach each other, till 

 at length, they all became united in one, uninterrupted stratum, ex- 

 tending from north to south, and reposing on about twenty beautiful 

 columns, which appeared to stand on the horizon. From appear- 

 ances those clouds produced no rain. At the time the mushrooms 

 were formed, their appearance was beautiful, but the closing scene 

 was grand and sublime beyond description. The cloud remained io 

 the situation above described, and nearly stationary, for about thirty 

 minutes, when it gradually disappeared. 



Mushroom clouds are of frequent occurrence, in calm weather, in 

 the latter part of summer, and the fore part of autumn, and most have 

 been observed by most people ; but I have never seen them when 

 they were so numerous and extensive, as on the day above mention- 

 ed. There was no wind at the time ; and the thermometer stood 

 at 70°. On the night and day following we had a storm of rain, in 

 which there fell about three inches of water. 



Art. XX. — On Hybernation and other topics of JYatural History ^ 

 by Judge Samuel Woodruff. 



Windsor, March 6, 1833. 



To Professor Silliman. — Dear Sir — Under the general head 

 Zoology, 1 know of no subject more engaging to the student of na- 

 ture, than what relates to the hybernation of various animals in oar 

 latitude. 



I have lately read, with very great pleasure, a short but excellent 

 treatise on this branch of zoology, by Mr. Lea, of Philadelphia, in- 

 serted in your Journal of Science, Vol. ix, p. 75. He quotes Dr. 

 Reeve's description of hybernation, " a continuance of life under 

 the appearance of death, a loss of sensibility, and of voluntary mo- 

 tion, a suspension of those functions most essential to the preserva- 

 tion of the animal economy." — Without attempting to enter upon a 

 discussion of this most interesting and somewhat intricate subject, I 

 shall content myself with stating some facts connected with it, hoping, 

 if you should think them deserving of publication, they may elicit 

 from others, more able and better qualified than myself, such remarks 

 and reasoning as may serve to extend the science of natural history^ 



