The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-14

would even have an advantage over the
animals, for he would have e. small
quantity Of air in his coffin. Remember
these Indian conjurers always insisted
that they should be dug UP at a certain
hour on certain day. If they were moi
death would very likely follow. When
they revived they could not live hall
an hour In their underground prison.
believe that we Will find in India
that the extreme heat has much to
40 IN helping the falcirs 10 go off into
their profound sleep, and also the dry
ness OIL the atmosphere and the earth
>nelps them. Man Is not influenced by
ohe climate quite as much as animals
but the same influence is at work on
him> Now. think the sarpe expert
ments could be performed up I'm tho
ARCTIC regions as we hear about In
INDIA. In other words the Indian IN
KIT takes advantage Of aeetination. and
the Esqulmo could take advantage OF
hipernasion, and permit himself to be
buried alive for half the winter. A
httle more study of the people North
ol us WIZ throw some light on the
suoJect. we nave heard OF stories Of
mon being saved from death by heing
frozen up in icebergs. Everybody has
naturally discredited such stories. but
l 10 not think 1t impossible. I believe
man under certain conditions could
steep soundly for month or two In
an Iceberg. and come back to life again
when the berg melted"
Curlously enough. in the arctic re-
gions the female polar bear hlbernates
all winter; but the male Is found at
oil seasons OF the year in search of
animal or human food. Our common
black bear hibernaltes all winter. and
1t is hard to rouse him; but the brown
bears OF Europe and Asia only partially
hibernate. The bears, like all hiber-
mating animals. begin their winter
sleep by fattening UP. Tn the fall OF
The year they are pursued by 4 restless
desire 10 eat all they can. and they
Will often gorge themselves so they
can hardly walk. Evidently the body
is nourshed by the accumulation of
fat the animals lay on in the late fall,
Tor when they wake up in the spring
they are exceedingly hungry and lean.
The bears are then the f1ercest crea-
utres fhat one can meet In the woods.
The hedgehog and 'woodchuck are
both perfect alternating animals.
They curl up in the hollow of Il tree
or burrow and remain there apparently
dead all winter. So evenly balanced
between life and death are they that q
slight shock Will kill them. They have
been known to die from a slight blow
thl't would not have killed a fly. When
suddenly and violently disturbed In
their sleep they give a long gasp for
breath and then expire. The bats are
so easily put to sleep in the cold
weather that they will often begin to
hibernate in early autumn. They re-
Fire to dark buildings. and suspend
themselves in punches by their hind
claws. They are so torpid that moth
Ing but heat disturbs them. Their
wings and legs can be broken off like
Dipestems without apparently causing
them any pain. But if they are held
in the hands a few minutes shey will
begin to revive and squrm about and
In time to snap their teeth omnously.
Fishes also hibernate II they live in
shallow bodies Of water. Those in the
ocean can seek lower depths where the
extreme cold never penetrates. Carp
can be frozen up In ice and live; but
usually The fresh water fishes seek
protection from freezing In the mud.
Tortoises, both land and water bury
themselves in the earth and mud, and
enter a state Of torpidity in winter.
Lizards and snakes crawl away into
holes In the ground or under rocks and
coil up together and hibernate until
warm weather returns. Frogs likewise
lay up q store or Fat, and then sleep
away the cold months ahead of us.
Most Of the snails and many of our in
sects that are 50 troublesome in sum-
mer pass their winters in sleep Only
man and few of the larger animals
are known never to hibernate, and
there IS 4 growing opinion that even
these under proper conditions can enter
into n prolonged sleep without en-
dangering health. We call IT sus-
pended animation. but the Indian ia
kris call it temporary death, and while
in the stupor they permit themselves
to be buried alive.