The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-04
BIRDS AND BEASTS
BEDS FOR BUTTERFLIES AND PLACES WHERE FISHES SLEEP.
How the Sparrow Boosts; Wild and in Captlvity-Resting While
 Hanging Upside Down.

C. Wm. Beebe in N. Y. Evening POSI-.
 We seldom realize how stronssthe sent iment of home is among animals. Not home. in the sense of the place where the eggs or young are cared for, but the spot which is selected as a sleeping place-where, after a long days hunt or journey, the creature may return and rest itself.
 Who would think ofsa butterfly as hay ing a home? To see one of these insects flying aimlessly from one flower to an- other, memory of the place where the previous night was spent would seem inn probable. And yet many of these little creatures do remember and return night after night to the same spot. A hibernat- ing butterfly was found one cold Febru- ary day. clinging with stiffened feet to the under side of piece of bark On the ground. Held in the fingers and exam ined, 1t might have been cabinet speci- men, for not the slightest sign of life was exhibited. The butterfly was re- placed. and a day or two later, when a thaw made the air spring-like. the insect had deserted its winters bedroom and was not to be found. The following day 1t returned, and when found was quite limp. but speedily stiffening from the recurring cold weather into the death like trance of Information.
 Fishes sleep. and very soundly, too. Although they have no eyelids to close, and no change can be detected in the ex- preston of the eyes, yet loss of conscious ness is proved by the lack of notice taken of clouds and other disturbing conditions. These creatures have favorite resting places to which they return again and again. In the Bay of Fundy at every in- coming tide fish return to certain spots, generally inches in the rocks, and re- main motionless, and probably asleep, for hours. The exact location of each spot in the appearance of the fish occupants, would seem to warrant the assertion that they were the same individuals.
 Sparows. generally roost singly in sum- mer, returning night after night to the same beam or shutter. In winter they band together. and will sometimes come from blocks around and perch by thous- ands in one tree, the weight of the birds bending the branches, and the min gaed ohirps making deafening chorus before sleep quiets them.
 The little marsh wrens. whose nests are so numerous in reedy swamps, are very fond of bedrooms, and while the female | Is sitting on her eggs. the energy of the male bird. when not bubbling over in song, is expended in the construction of additional nests, some of which he may make use of for sleeping purposes
 In captivity, birds have many curious ways of sleeping which must hint of wild habits and causes unknown to us. We can understand certain parrots cling ing with feet and bill to the sides of their cages, as 1t is known that when wild they spend the nights in hollow trees, hanging to the roughened crevices on the inside. But even jays and some sparrows will sleAn s0nndlv sunnorted on the r,ar- pendicuiar wire by their toes alone. When a number of different kinds of birds are kept in one cage each species Is always to be found by itself at night -thrushes in one row, mocking birds in another. song-sparrows on their own in dividual twig. and so on.
 Animals often have dreams and not a few have nightmares-monkeys and birds especially. bird will be sleeping quiet ly when without warning it will start from its perch, dash against the wires, calling loudly. and awaken every bird within hearing. Finally it drops panting to the floor. trembling' with fright and several minutes pass before 1t quets down and goes to sleep again.
 Birds have pleasant dreams as well, and at midnight I have heard the plaint- i've. dreamy notes of the white-throated sparrow. In the woods, when one brushes against brnSn Httle Maryland yellow throat has chosen for it's bedroom, the bird will instantly begin to sing a few sleepy measures of it's ditty-wichity- wbtchity-wich.
 A scent. either welcome or terrifying will awaken many animals quicker than sound or other causes. A fox den, filled one moment with round, sleeping bundles of fur. will, a second later. show every fox on its feet, with trembling, wrinkled noses snffing the wind which happens to blow from nearby pheasant aviary. A deer in deep slumber will leap to its feet with bound when a sudden change in the breeze tells of wolves over the next hill. The sleep of animals and their bed rooms holds much of interest, of which we yet know little.