358 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 
making. In Europe the hedge-hog® (an insectivorous animal) is most 
complete. It retires to a hole among rocks, under a tangled mass of 
roots of trees or sometimes into an old disused drain, there it remains 
for the winter, seldom or never awakens until spring, and during this 
time it takes no food. In Canada it wakens to eat. If disturbed, it 
draws a deep sononous breath, followed by a few weak respiratory. move- 
ments, returning almost immediately to its deep state of torpor and 
quiescence. he tuerec, an allied animal, found in Madagascar, sleeps 
similarly in its burrow for three months during the hottest period of 
the year. 
None of the American (or European) squirrels truly hibernate’ 
except the chipmunks (Entamice) and the ground squirrels (sper- 
mophiles). 
The dormouse hibernates in the strictest form and its torpid condi- 
tion is much deeper than that of the squirrels, its favorite bed for its 
long slumber being an old bird’s nest or a mass of dried moss or feathers. 
In captivity, this little animal has been known to sleep for several days 
during the summer. The myoxus, an allied animal, when brought to 
Europe from Africa, hibernated in the winter seasons as if it were its 
usual and natural habit, without sustaining any harm. 
The hare will lie beneath deep snow for several weeks at a time, in a 
cavity just large enough to contain its body. Ina similar manner, 
sheep, without any apparent injury, have been known to live for several 
weeks, buried in huge snow drifts or slides. 
All the amphibia hibernate in cold and temperate climes. Land 
tortoises bury themselves in holes in the ground, while the fresh-water 
tortoises bury themselves in the mud at the bottom and sides of lakes 
and ponds. They obtain a deeper condition of torpidity than that of 
hibernating mammals, digestion and respiration (lung) being entirely 
suspended. Frogs hibernate in masses in the mud at the bottom of 
stagnant pools and if awakened from the hibernating state by warmth, 
can remain underwater, without drowning, considerably longer than 
they can during the breeding season. That frogs (toads?) can remain 
‘na state of hibernation for an indefinite period remains to be proved, ~ 
but too many circumstantial accounts have been reported of the dis- 
covery of live toads in masses of solid coal or rock formations to allow 
the idea to be dismissed as fabulous.* 
Reptiles, fish and batrachians exhibit little change from their usual 
° Hedge-hog; this term hedge-hog is confusing; it is the term applied in 
Maine and New Brunswick to the common porcupine. 
7In Canada, both the porcupine and squirrel store up food for winter con- 
sumption, rousing themselves at irregular intervals to eat. 
8“ Qur common toad hibernates in the ground, as does the wood frog (Rana 
sylvaticus) and the small jumping frogs (Hyla). Our newts also hibernate in 
the ground.”—John Burroughs (private communication) . 
