The Portland daily press., 1895-07-01
THE SLEEP OF ANIMALS.
1t is Deep or Light According to Their
Need of Protection,

"'S See that fine watch dog, and that
fat pug; they are both sleeping. Now
see the difference when slight noise is
made. -
The dog fancier made slight noise
with his shoe, and the two blinking eyes
of the watch dog were open, but the fat,
lazy pug did not move. 1t did not open
its eyes until the man rolled it over on
its back and shook it.
"That fellow has lost, by education
and petting the instinct that most
wild animals possess, the man contin-
ued. 'But this watch dog has been
taught to sleep as it's ancestors did when
they were wild in the mountains. 1t is
remarkable how the wild animals and
good dogs can sleep so lightly that they
may be awakened instantly by the slight
est noise.
Birds of the air are pretty much. the
same. They generally have one eye open
when they sleep, and they can get SO thor
oughly awake in moment that they will
fly away for safety. ''I suppose this fac
on the constant lookout for danger the
wild animals and birds had to sleep so
that their enemies could not approach
them without giving an alarm. They
seem to have acquired and transmitted a
faculty that man lacks.
MANY of the nocturnal animals sleep
very lightly In the daytime, snatching
while they are on the watch for danger
or for food. A lion or tiger, lying in
wait for prey will closesits eyes and sleep
little. Even cat will do that while
she is waiting patiently for a mouse or a
bird
But this rest is one of vigilance. One
sense seems to be awake, and the least
noise of the prey will bring all of the
other seness to a just appreciation of the
case. When fox is sleeping an alarm
close by or at a distance will bring the
animal to his senses so quickly that he
will know Immediately what to do. Now
man waking from profound slumber
would have to rub his eyes, think min
ute, and look around to get his bearings,
and would finally, perhaps, start off in
the wrong direction. Wild animals new
er make this mistake. The whole crea-
ture is on the alert and one can never
take them unawares No matter how
carefully you crawl upon them the eyes
are opened before you can see them. I'm
doubtedly they do sleep with the eyes
closed, but the sense of danger keeps
them well informed, even during their
profoundest slumber. Deer sleep soundly
but they are easily aroused. A stag will
never give way to deep slumber, unless
he is with some that are watching
Undoubtedly all wild animals that
travel in focks take turns in sleeping
and watching. Many of the flesh eating
animals sleep soundly after they have
gorged themselves, and tigers, bears and
lions have all been easily approached at
such times and killed. They are like the
snakes; big dinner is too much for
them, and drowsiness overcomes their
extra sense.
E'On the other hand, we have some
wild creatures that fairly steep themselves
in sleep. The owls and bats are the most
curious Of these. They sleep in the day
time in the hollow trunks Of trees, or in
deserted buildings, and their slumber is
SO profound that they seem to be drugged.
When discovered they do not mske much
effort to escape. They are perfectly help
less Sleep and light together seem; to be-
numb their faculties like freezing cold
I threw a sleeping owl from tree top
toward the earth, so feet below, and the
creature fell like lead until close to the
earth. 1t recovered itself just in time
to avoid being crushed.
'But the bats cannot throw off the
drowsiness even then. All the effort they
will make is to snap and crack theirl avs
as if resenting the intrusion. The opos-
sums are very similar, and will permit
you to chop them out of their hole in the
daytime and carry them off. "-Philadel
phia Times.