The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-01-28
\ WONDER OF NATURE,

The phenomenon of Information in
animals, fish and reptiles" said nat
uralist who has made the peculiar and
little understood phases of animal life
bis particular study, 'is something that
from its very nature and surroundings
cannot be investigated, and consequent
ly little is known as to the cause, or as
to what physiological changes occur to
animals that hahitualIy retire to con-
cealed places and lie dormant, or in a
lethargic sleep. for days, weeks and
even months 1t is known that in the
perfect hibernators the processes o. ma
ture are interrupted during the period
of this long imSensibilitv. Breathing
Is nearly, and in some hibcrnators en-
tirely, suspended, and the temperature
of the blood. even in the warm-blooded
animals. falls 50 low that how life can
be maintained hy it is mystery of
mysteries.
"A variety of Rocky Mountain
ground squirrels, when in perfect hi
bernation, has 4 temperature only three
degrees above the freezing point of wa
ter, and when taken from their burrows
in that condition these squirrels are as
rigid as if they were not only dead, but
frozen. But few minutes in a warm
room will show that they are not only
alive, but full of life. This interesting
fact in natural history was first demon
strated by the late Andrew Fuller, of
Ridgewood, \. j., to whom a friend in
the west sent pair of these squirrels.
When the weather became cold Mr..
Fuller missed mis- pets one day. e. T.
supposed they had run away from lis
premises. Nearly a month later he
found them by accident cur.>pl up Le-
meath pile of straw in one corner of
an inclosurc on his place. They were
so cold and stiff that he supposed they
were frozen to death He carried them
into the house to show his wife the fate
that had befallen the poor little rodents
in the harsh eastern climate While
he and she were discussing the matter
sorrowfully the squirrels began to show
signs of life, and short v were frisking
about the room as if they had not
been apparenty Y frozen stiff for weeks.
Mr.. Fuller then knew that the squir-
rels had been in 4 state of Information,
and it was such an extraordinary one
that he put them out Of doors again to
let them renew that condition, it they
might, so he mi ght investigate it fur
ther. They had no sooner got into the
cold air than the lcthargic state began
to assert itself, and Mr.. Fuller covered
them with straw. \ month later he
took their temperature, and found it
to be as have s;ated-oniy three de-
grecs above the freezing point of water
Again they came back to life and ac-
tivity when placed in the warm room,
but after few hours showed plainly
that they were being bereft of their
natural winter sleep. Mr. Fuller
turEed them loose to find it again.
They found it as before, and they re-
maincd in that condition until the warm
weather returned in the spring, when
they came out rs clipper as if they
hadn't lost a day or 4 meal.
''As to the suspension Of breathing
II hibe rnators, the fact is proved sufIi-
ciently in the instance of the raccoon
and the woodchuck When they had
laid themselves away for their winter
sleep they roll themselves up comfort
abl Y and press their noses in such
peculiar position against their hinder
parts that it would be an absolute i'm
possibility for them to draw breath
The popular backwoods belief is that
the bear rolls itself up in this way and
does not breathe. but, while the bear is