The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-28
couCHEs OF BIRDS AND BEASTS.
Beds for Butterflies and Places
where Fishes SIeep-HOw the
Sparrow RoOsts.

From the New York Post.
We seldom realize how strong the
sentiment 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
sleeping place-where. after long
days hunt or journey. the creature
may return and rest itself.
Who would think of a butterfly as
having a home? To see one of these
insects flying aimlessly from one flow
er to another, memory of the place
where the previous night was spent
would seem improbable And yet many
of these little creatures do remember
and return night after night to the
same spot. A alternating butterfly was
found one cold February day. clinging
with stiffened feet to the under side
of a piece of bark on the ground. Held
in the fingers and examined, it might
have been cabinet specimen, for not
the slightest sign of life was exhibited.
The butterfly was replaced, and 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 return
ed, and when found was quite limp.
but speedily stiffening from the recur-
ring 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
expression of the eyes, yet loss of con-
sciousneSs is proved by the lack of no.
tice taken of clouds and other disturb
ing conditions. These creatures have
favorite resting places to which they
return again and again. In the Bay Of
Fundy at every incoming tide fish. re-
turn to certain spots, generally inches
in the rocks, and remain motionless.
and probably asleep, for hours. The
exact location of each spot chosen and
rechosen, and the similarity in the APP
pearance of the fish occupants, would
seem to warrant the assertion that
they were the same individuals.
Sparrows generally roost singly in
summer. returning night after night to
the same beam or shutter. In winter
they band together, and in a city will
sometimes come from blocks around
and perch by thousands in one tree,
the weight of the birds bending the
branches, and the mingled chirps maxi
ing 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 en-
ergy of the male grid, when not bub-
bling over in song. is expended in the
construction of additional nests, some
of which he may make use of for sleep
ing 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
clinging with feet and bill TO the sides
of their cages, as it is known that
when wild they spend the nights in
hollow trees, hanging to the roughen-
ed crevices on the inside. But even
jays and some sparrows will sleep
soundly supported on the pendendieu-
lar wire by their toes alone. When a
number of different kinds of birds are
kept in one cage. each species is al
ways to be found by itself at night
thrushes in one row. hooking birds in
another. song-sparrows on their own
individual twig, and so on.
Animals often have dreams, and not
a few have nightmares-monkeys and
birds especially. A bird will be sleep
ing quietly. when without warning it
will start from its perch. dash against
the wires. calling loudly. and awaken
every bird within hearing. Finally it
drops painting to the floor. trembling
with fright, and several minutes pass
before it quiets down and goes to
sleep again.
Birds have pleasant dreams as well,
and at midnight / have heard the
plaintive, dreamy notes of the white
throated sparrow. In the woods. when
one brushes against brush a little
Maryland yellowthroat has chosen for
its bedroom. the bird Will instantly be-
gin to sing a few sleepy measures of
its ditty-wichity-w itchity-witch.
A scent, either welcome or terrify-
ing, will awaken many animals quicker
than sound or other causes A fox
den, filed one moment with round,
sleeping bundles of fur. Will. oscond
later, show ever fox on its feet. with
trembling. wrinkled noses smiling the
wind which happens TO blow from a
nearby pheasant aViary. deer In
deep slumber will leap TO it's feet at a
bound when a sudden change in the
breeze tells OF wolves over the next
hill. The sleep OF animals and their
bedrooms holds much Of interest, OF
which we yet know little
- 7--------
mo" said the bride-to-be. Il