The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-12
Strange Phenomenon of
Many Members of the
Brute Creation.
Bears Roll Down Hill in a
Sphere and Frogs Hibernate
That Way.
The Porcupine and Others Assume
the Shape for Offensive and
Defensive Purposes.

ne curious little hedgehog OF England
has habit, shared by several animals. of
curling uD into ball when attacked and
presenting its spines to the enemy the
head and vulnerable portions being per-
fectly protected. Many animals assume
a ball-like shape for various purposes.
Bears have been seen to coil up and roll
down hills. Squirrels and many Others
roll up into perfect balls to sleep. and
snakes have been known tc join forces
and form a living ball, in which shape
they passed the winter season. A natur-
alist observed in the spring a ball of
snakes slowly rolling down a slight de-
clivity, the heads protruding in every
direction-a most uncanny and disagree
able spectacle.
Sometimes animals have been known to
assume a ball-like shape for protection.
Thus an investigator wishing to force an
ant family from its nest directed large
stream of water in that direction, at which
the ants rushed as rapidly as possible to a
common center and chung to each other
with so much vigor that ball as large as
baseball was soon formed, which tioated
down the little stream living bark, which
undoubtedly saved many of the ants.
Several years ago naturalist travelling
in Van Dlemans Land saw one night, as
he was returning TO the village, what he
supposed to be a wasp's nest, hanging to
the high branch of tree. Wishing to
secure it. he marked the spot and sent
man the following day for it, who returned
with the report that he mad found the tree
but the nest had disappeared. The follow
ing evening the naturalist stopped at the
same place and found the nest as before.
Again the man was sent for it, and again
he reported there was no nest to be seen.
Out of patience, the naturalist went with
him the following morning, and to his
amazement the nest had disappeared. He
related the experience 10 friend and
native of the country, who expressed the
belief that the supposed wasp's nest was
nothing more or less than ball of birds,
which proved to be the correct
solution. The two men went that
afternoon and concealed themselves in
the bush and as night approached
saw numbers of wood swallows (Artamus
sordidus) flying about the limb, upon
which they soon began to alight; some
clinging to it like lizards, crawling about
in curious way. Finally the birds began
to collect at certain spot, and then to
cling to each other with heads down; new
corners every moment increasing the 81 re
of the ball until, to the establishment of
the traveller, a living ball of birds was
formed, which chung to each other in this
way to sleep. A gun fired near the ball
caused it to separate at once, apparently
dropping into the air. to break up as the
birds released their holds and few away.
The wood swallow is delicate little
creature about six inches in length, with
long powerful wings and a forked tail; it's
color is a sooty gray, other parts being
! blue, black and white.
Among the animals of the sea living
balls are often found, especially among
/ star fishes, large balls of stars entwined
closely together having been observed, sew
eral feet in diameter and weighing fifty or
sixty pounds. The oyster men have a
theory that the star fishes join in forming
balls to accelerate their march in upon the
oyster-beds. Thus they form in a ball, en-
twining together, and it is supposed by the
men that the ground swell sends them in
until they reach the beds when they break
up, each star Selling an oyster. Be this as
it may, balls of scores OF star fishes have
been found on the oyster banks, but
whether they form to be washed in upon
I the shells is another question.
The animals which are protected by
assuming ball-like shape are MANY. The
hedgehog is said to have been seen rolling
itself up at the approach of fox. So with
the porcupine when threatened by the
mountain lion, it rolls itself up, showing
an array of spines that would daunt almost
any animal.
The armadillo, the curious little armored
creature from South America, is especially
adapted for this method of protection, its
covering being arranged in rings so that it
readily rolls up, presenting to the jaguar,
eagle or any animal that may attack 1t an
armored front impenetrable to all. 1t is
said that the jaguar will roll this living
ball about, finally pushing it into the
water. when it is obliged TO swim or drown,
bnt it is doubtful if the story has ever been
corroborated. G. +. HOLDEN.