Anticipation of Winter 



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cold of winter. Others, more timorous still, are content to 

 trust their chance of survival to minute and usually well 

 protected representatives, which, preserving a wholly latent 

 vitality, can under various conditions endure degrees of cold 

 which would have been fatal to their parents. These are the 

 seed-producing annuals. 



In the family of Fungals the retirement from air-exposure 

 is often most absolute. The whole plant is lost in the earth, 

 or in some piece of wood or other substance, and not a 

 trace of its existence can be detected until the next season 

 comes round. Other species, emulating the lichens and 

 some mosses, have become able to resist cold, or need only 

 the protection of the friendly snow. 



We must of necessity leave aside the innumerable tribes 

 of minute or microscopic fungals for the survival of which 

 by alternation of generations and a multitude of other devices 

 provision is made. 



We will turn now to what some will consider a more in- 

 teresting department, that of Animal life. 



As might be expected, the cold-blooded animals, snakes, 

 lizards, toads, frogs, &.c, &c, do not suffer serious harm 

 from depressions of temperature, and most of them are 

 capable of long abstinence from food. None of them have any 

 coverings protective against cold, nor do they need such. To 

 them winter has negative losses, but no real hardships. The 

 lizard misses his warm wall and the swarm of flies, but he 

 retires into his favourite crevice and quietly waits for 

 happier days. 



Fish can sustain life in any temperature that water can 

 assume, and may possibly even live for a time in solid ice. 

 Their reproductive functions, as a rule, pass into abeyance 

 during winter and they no doubt eat much less, and become 

 more sluggish. In other respects we may suppose that 

 winter makes no great difference to them. 



It would take us too long even to allude to the varied and 

 wonderful winter habits of Insects. An enormous number of ; 



