92 
cayman is said to hybernate throughout the southern 
parts of North America. I believe this is not the 
case with the crocodiles of Africa, or the gavials in 
the Ganges 4. 
** Birds,” says sir W. Jardine in the note above 
cited, “ are occasionally found in holes, in what has 
been called a torpid state, and have revived upon 
being placed in a warmer temperature ; but this, I 
consider, has been a suspended animation, which 
would soon have terminated in death, not torpidity, 
where various functions and secretions are still going 
on.” 
Owls, like almost all birds of prey, are capable 
of bearing a long abstinence from food, and never 
drink. Bingley says they sleep through the winter : 
but they are often seen abroad even in very severe 
seasons, though not so commonly as during the 
summer. All the birds on the lakes of Siberia are 
said by Professor Gmelin to retreat southward on 
the commencement of frost, except the rail, which 
sleeps buried in the snow. (Account of Siberia 
quoted by Darwin in Loves of the Plants.) Some 
birds, like snakes, sleep profoundly after having 
gorged themselves with food, as most vultures; and 
the pelecanus bassus, solan goose, which is easily 
captured in such state °. 
a ** At the present day the crocodile is found in the Nile only 
towards the region of Upper Egypt, where it is extremely hot, 
and where this animal never falls into a lethargic state.” Griffith’s 
Cuvier, Suppl. on Sauria. 
' The Saurian reptiles sustain long fasting, and never drink. 
