New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-27

held by the Ostiaks Of North Siberia that the
mammoths whose bodies and bones they found
EN- bedded In the frozen soil only" 81
gantic moes which worked deep down below
ground but were unlucky enough 10 come too
the top and were frozen, The facts
are however. in very strong contradiction to
this view OF the subterTanean lie Of animals.
Life underground and in the dark is absolutely
contrary to the normal habits, tastes and struct-
ure Of almost all animals except the very few
like the common moles, tuco-tuco, ana the
marsupia sand-moles, which obtain their food
below the earth surface diving birds catch
fish below the surface. II is almost an IN
version Of their normal way of life, and is prob
ably due In the opinion of a writer in The
Spectator" TO so ne such compusiOn as has also
forced many animals 10 become nocturnal Nor
is ii doubtful that if once this necessity were
removed their tendency would be to abandon
this unnatural life and return to the regions OF
light.
How strong the pressure must have been
which forced them underground may be gain
cred from the list of English terrestrial mann
mails Twelve Of these are bats. but or the re-
naming Twenty-Five no less than sixteen or
more than half. live either wholly or parity
underground The list includes The fox, three
shrews the mole, the badger, the otter, three
sp.cies of mice two rats three voles. and the
rabbit Besides there are several species OF
birds. as widely different in habit as the stormy
petrels sand martins pufiins, sheldrake DUCKS
and the kinghsher which for time live In
holes excayated in the earth. To abandon the
sun to bask in whose rays is to most animals
one Of the most agreeable Of physical enjoy
ments is an almost greater sacrifice than the
chi Of
Is made and the creatures. though not with
ont occasional suffering and loss Of health d.
rectlv attributable to this cause. have succeeded
in adapting themselves with great success 10
the new conditions. II might well be that the
measure Of this success decreased in proportion
10 the completeness with which the different
species have adopted the underground haDlt
and abandoned light and air But In norman
conditions this is not the case The FOX, "hlch
u. take TO t.. the last OF English mammals 10
become A turnover and dweller in holes-largely
owing TO the increase Of hunting and multi
plication of packs Of hOunds-is an amman
which spends as little time there as il can help.
and has never ceased 20 suffer In health from
the change The earths become tainted the
foxes contract mango. and the sIread OF TINS
fatal disease has Increased yearly a. they nave
hecome more subterranean and 10y taking their
food into the holes have converted them into
larders as well as sleeping places.
How most Of the burrowing animals find He
.,durahle at all is difficult to discover. No one
who has seen golfers coming FOR their lamps
md about to descend into the pit can have
called TO note the marks Of physical strain eX-
h,hited by all-from old men 10 boys. AZ each
~, or lad comes ~ and shouts the number
., his lamp the harsh. loud voices the over
wrought lines of the face and the general air
~ tension show that however well saushed Inc
,atm.n " with bis calling. he at least IS no'