The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-12

object when asleep. The black
bears win curl up among the
branches of a tree when they
have the opportunity and go to sleep in
this peculiar position In their native
haunts this is common habit with the
black bears. The big white polar bears Of
the park simply curl themselves up on
the rocky bottom of their outdoor cage
and go to sleep without thought of fear.
They show a popularity in the selection
Of their sleeping place characteristic OF
nearly all the captive animals. Tney Sc
lect one particular corner of the cage for
sleeping and invariably they seek this out
for every nights rest. This corner seems
more like home to them, and they sniff
around the whole cage before they are
finally satisfied that is it the right place
for their nights rest.
The high-strung. nervous animals are
the most interesting to watch at night
time. They usually belong to the hunted
tribes. whose lives are in constant danger
in the forest and they possess such
highly developed nervous system that they
really sleep with one eye open. They never
seem to lose themselves in slumber so
that an enemy could steal upon them
unawares. The slightest noise will in
stantly awaken them, and even in the
park menag erie this instinct of self-pree-
ervation is clearly shown. The prairie
wolves merely seem to close their eyes
for an instant, and then open them again
to see If all is quiet. Many vain efforts
have been made to photograph these anil
mails by fashEght at night time, ana
every time the camera revealed the fact
that one eye at least was partly open.
Some time ago one photographer who had
secured permission TO photograph the ami
mails at night time waited full hour
In GREATNESS silence for an opportune
moment to photograph the prairie wolves.
When the pictures were developed the
animals had both eyes half open. Usually
when noises disturb these creatures they
jump up and run around their cage, or
stand alert, ready for instant action.
Sleep Any Way They Can.
Many of the animals in the menagerie
do not have the opportunity to select their
natural sleeping place. and hence their
positions are not indicative of their true
preference Thus the porcupine tribe in
the park are forced to sleep in their cages
the best way they can, but up in the Zoo
they climb into the branches of G tree,
and there curl themselves up in a round
ball and go to sleep In this position
nothing but a bristling we'll of sharp
quilts is presented to the outside world,
and the quilts make an unpleasant mouth
ful for any beast of the woods.
Inc DAY SleeperS IN the IneHdSeIle are
for some reason the heaviest slumberers
of all, and when they close their eyes in
early morning they seem almost as stupid
as if drugged. Both eyes are closed, and
every sense and faculty seems dormant.
Danger in many forms could creep upon
the creatures, and they would never be
aware of 1T. Even when violently reused
rom their day slumbers they do not in
stantly regain their faculties, but appear
marked contrast to most of the light
night sleepers, which, on the approach of
danger, are instantly awake and on the
alert. Before one could put a hand
through the iron bars to touch one, an
instinct would warn it of danger and it
would leap away or stand on the defen-
sive ready to bite or scratch the Offend
ing hand. Thus, in a way, the natural
instincts of their wild life are kept alive
in captivity. and these senses are only
dulled through many generations of cage
life.