The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-08-30
ATTITUDES IN SLEEP.
THE Odd Pastures In Which Animals
and Fish Seek Rcposc.

me Odd fcSturcS IN Whicn Aninale
and Fish Seek Rcposc.
Fish have density so nearly that
Of water that they can rest quietly
on sand or gravel without apparent
effort, Are they asleep? Probably,
though they do not shut their eyes.
AT the beginning of evening, for in
stance, the gudgcon chooses a sandy
spot between stones and remains
there, facing the current, its body
resting on the lower lobe of the tail
and on its pectoral and ventral fms
1t is possible that it assumes the
same position in winter and remains
in it until spring, alternating. The
barbels and Dreams sleep in compa-
nies, like the gudgeon, but on a
muddy bottom. The pike sleeps in
summer near the bank, at the sur
face, where the sunlight can reach
it. The carp keeps near the bottom.
The eel hides in holes that it makes
nearer the bank
The observation of sea fish is
more difficult, as may be imagined.
1t is now agreed that herrings,
mackerel and other so called migra-
tory fish pass the winter at the bot
tom in a kind of lethargy Do they
adopt the gudgeon's position2 Per-
haps, though Plevlle lie Peley has
seen thousands of mackerel half
buried in the mud, holding their
tails vertically above it. Batrachians
sleep sitting with the head in the
air. The toad sleeps by day in holes
or under rocks and retres under
ground for the winter. He burrows
backward, his hind feet and the end
of his body serving to dig the hole,
while he pushes with his fore feet.
The marsupials are generally forced
by the shape of their bodies to sleep
sitting. The phalanger fox sleeps
in a crouching posture, the head
between the fore feet. The lemurs
also crouch, with the long, bushy
tail around the hind feet. With the
chimpanzees and other apes the hair
on the upper arm and the forearm
grows in opposite directions. This
serves to protect the animal more
effectively from the rain when he
sleeps crouching in the thick woods
or in the brush with his arms folded |
and pressed against the BODY The |
orang takes his siesta with bent |
back, head hanging on his chest and
sometimes holding to a branch by
one OF his extended arms, but gen
orally with both arms hanging by
his sides.
Penguins and pelicans also rest in
a sitting posture. A whole flock
takes refuge under a projecting
rock, the beak resting on the
breast or with neck bent, to allow
it to rest on the back. The haze
does not sleep with open eyes, as
has been wrongfully asserted, for its
pupils are Theoretically closed dur
ing sleep.
The crocodile and the cayman re-
pose on the ground on the entire
ventral surface. Lizards sleep with
their eyes shut and their mouths
open, Turtles naturally take the
same position, the land varieties in
dry grass or in a shallow burrow,
the marine ones at the surface of
the sea, on which they float. This
is the moment chosen for catching
them.
Most of the ruminants lie on the
flank. Camels stretch out with neck
Deer lie near each 9th
er in winter. The horse stretches
out his legs. Cats and hares also
stretch themselves.
The carnivores-the cat family,
5he bear, dog, wolf, fox, etc.-curl
up or place the head stretched out
IN the paws. Several rodents, like
he rat, sleep rolled up into ball.
The hedgehog, which passes the
whole day hidden among stones or
brush or in the trunk of hollow
rec, also rolls up, with its head
md paws under its belly so that it
ooks like a huge chestnut bur-
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