The herald., 1897-12-27
DRINKING HABITS
Something About Those of Familiar
Animals

Tame rabbits are commonly kept with
out water, but they may be seen licking
the bars of their hutch after a shower,
and drink eagerly when they have the
chance Most other rodents, including
rats, are thirsty creatures. The only
animals living in very dry places which
seem able to do entirely without drink
are snakes and reptiles. In the cold
desert of shifting sand in Kashgar there
were no reptiles and not even a fly. But
the Afghan boundary conSisison found
swarms of lizards and a new and VEN
omous species Of adder in astonishing
numbers in the awful desert of hot shift
ing sand at the corner where Persia, Ba-
luchistan and Afghanistan meet.
We must note one exception, the gi-
raffe which Mr. Dryden believes exists
for three-quarters of the year in the
North Kalahari without water. But this
cannot be proved until the desert has
been explored and the total absence of
water confirmed. There is known to be
water beneath the surface and if the
giraffe does live waterless, he must i'm
bibe his liquid nutriment at second hand
in the juices of the leaves of the trees,
which have their roots in the moisture.
Seals do not apparently drink; neither
do cormorants and penguins; but there
can be little more evaporation from their
bodies than from those of fish, and their
food is wet and moist. A more difficult
question is that of the water supply of
arctic animals in winter; possibly they
eat snow.
There is abundant evidence that,
he, nv n mir ,al wifi mt
water for long periods, this abstinence
is not voluntary, and when unduly pro-
tracted causes suffering and loss of
health. The whole cat tribe are proverb-
tally tough" and can not only recover
from frightful bodily injuries, but en-
dure hunger and thirst longer than most
animals. Instances of cats lost or stuck
fast in hollow walls, where, in addition
to deprivation of food, they have been
cut off from water for periods Of a fort
night or more, are not uncommon; yet
the cats have soon recovered. But it
would be absolutely wrong to conclude
that the animal did not suffer during it's
imprisonment, and the height of cruelty
to compel it to face such deprivation. The
normal habits of animals are a certain
guide to their physical requirements
and the fondness Of cats for water other
than for outside application, ought to
be matter of common knowledge. From
the tiger, which regularly goes off for
long drink" after kill, and commonly
bathes in hot weather, to the household
pussy, they all drink water regularly, the
latter two or three times day.
The writer has often watched from the
high-level railways the London cats
belonging to the small tenements taking
their midday drink of water in hot
weather They spring from the dividing
walls on to the small water cisterns,
alighting neatly on the space between
the cover of the cistern and the wall,
and, leaning over, lap the water. Many
people imagine that cats prefer milk to
quench their thirst, and never provide
them with water pans. This is a mis-
take. The cats, like the tigers and
jaguars, prefer water, and the numerous
cases of cats upsetting and breaking
| flower vases on tables are usually due,
not to mischief, but to the cats efforts
to drink the water In which the flowers
are set. 1t is noticed that Persian cats
are more eager for water than Others
London Spectator.