Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-11-21
SUMNER SLEEPING ANIMALS.
Several which Reverse the Supposed
Usual Order OF ThiDgs.

Every one knows that a large num-
Der of animals sleep la protected
places during the cold season Of the
year aud wake 10 the summer. A
similar phenomenon is the summer
sleep Of different reptiles-principally
serpents and crocodiles--which thus,
pass the time OF greatest heat In troD-
ical regions. But that reptiles and
amphibious animals. native TO the tenn
perste zones. frequently spend the hot
days Ia q sumner sleep" Is not so
we'll known. DIR. Franz Werner has
recently had this discussed la the
xoological-botanical society OF Vienna,
aud furnishes the following particu-
lars. as reported in the n. Y. Stats
Zeitung. During the months OF July
and August IL will be observed by
those who pay any attention TO outdoor
animal life that reptiles and amphib-
ians are noticeably fewer in number
than during the spring months; but IL
they begin to hunt under large. smooth
stones. Ia holes in tho ground, on the
edges OF marshes and ponds, under
brush wood and heaps OF dead leaves,
they will not seldom find these ani-
mails, either alone or in great groups,
In q condition very similar to sleep;
not, indeed. so sound as the winter
sleep" but the eyes are fully closed
and the breathing little slower. The
frogs sit huddled together and make
no attempt TO fee, only burrowing
somewhat deeper into the earth.
Lizards aud salamanders lie almost
motiouless. with the tails over their
heads, and even the latter feel almost
dry. Snakes are rolled up like spirals,
and. as rule, with the head con-
cealed. They are, however, the most
quickly reused.
The reason OF this summer sleep Is
different, according as the animal lives
on land or in tho 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, oc-
ours during the high temperature.
The water salamanders are always In
a partial summer sleep; those which
live In the water during the whole
year do not sleep In summer. such as
the water frog. which lives In ponds
aud marshes we'll supplied with water.
1t Is generally supposed that our rep
tiles enjoy the heat OF summer, so that
as this increases, they improve in
health. But this is not always the
case; rather 10 has been found that
many Of our reptiles are killed by q
prolonged exposure to the heat Of the
sun, and il We observe lizards 10 the
open air we may be sure that they do
not stay out very long under the beams
OF the sun. but 20 back from time to
time to their dwellings. Only turtles
can remain exposed TO 3 glowing sun
any length OF time without some shade.
Lizards and snakes often succumb in
half an hour. The summer sleep OF
these animals is = regular habit wher-
ever the warmth OF the sun annually
reaches Its height; that Is to say. from
every noon until about o'clock. and
increases where the rainfall Is light
and infrequent In places where in
tense heat is OF rare occurrence q SIM
liar phenomenon 10 observed ia these
years ouly. Ia captivity these ami.
mails have neither winter nor q sum-
mer sleep. because the temperature OF
the cages Is kept warmer In winter
and cooler in summer than in the open
air