Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-15
SUMNER SLEEPING ANIMALS
sereeai winch reverse the Supposed Usual
Order of IA hits

Every one knows that large number
OF animals sleep in protected pacas dur
ing the cHld season OF the year aud wake
IN The summer, say S the New York Stats
A@ltung similar phenomenon Is the
summer sleep of different reptiles -prin-
cipally Serpents and reptileS-which thus
pass the time OF the greatest heat in the
tropical regions. But that reptiles and
amphlolouS animals, natives of the tenn
perate zones, frequently spend the hot days
IN a summer sleep Is not so we'll known.
Or. Franz Werner has recently had this
discussed IN the Geological Botanical
society of Vienna and furnishes the fol-
lowing particulars: During the months
OF July and August it will be observed by
those VINO pay any attention to outdoor
animal LIE that reptiles and amphIbians
are nouceabiy fever In number than dur
! ing the spring months; but if they begin
to hunt under large, smooth stones. in
holes IN the ground, on the edges of
marshes and ponds, under brushwood and
heaps of dead leaves, they will not seldom
find these animals, either alone or in great
| groups, In q condition verv similar to
| sleep; not, indeed, so sound as the win
ter Sleep" but the eyes are fully closed
and the breathing little slower. The
| frogs sit huddled together ard make no
attempt to fee, ouIy burrowing some
what deeper into the earth. Lizards and
salamanders lie almost motioness. with
| the tails over their heads, and even the
latter feel almost dry. Snakes are rolled
up like spiralS aud as a rule with their
head concealed. They are, however, the
most quickly around.
| The reason of this summer sleep is diff
| ferent. according as the animal lives on
land or IN the water. Those on land sleep
during the greatest heat; those In the
water only when their usual dwelling
place Is dried up, which generally, though
not necessarily, occurs during the high
| temperature. The water salamanderS are
always IN partial summer sleep; those
which live In the water during the whole
year 90 not sleep IN SUMNER; such as the
"ater-frog, which live In ponds and
marshes we'll supplied with water. 1t is
generally supposed that our reptiles en-
JOY the heat of summer, so that, as this in
creases, they improve In health But this
Is not always the case: rather mas it been
found that many of our reptiles are killed
by the prolonged exposure to the heat OF
the sun, and If we observe lizards in the
open air we may be sure that they do not
quay ooo VOL l'hS uhuei ZIG oeauS OF inc
sun, but go back from time to time to their
dwelling. Only turtles can remain ex-
posed to glowing sun any length of time
without some shade. Lizards and snakes
often succumb In half an hour. The SUM-
mer sleep of these animals is regular
habit, wherever the warmth OF the sun
annually reaches it sheight; that is to say,
from every noon until about o clock, and
increases where the rainfall is light and in
frequent. In places where intense heat is
OF rare occurrence a similar phenomenon is
observed in these years only. In capativ-
| lty these animals have neither winter or
| summer sleep, because the temperature of
the cages is kept warmer in winter and
cooler IN summer than in tn" open air.