The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-21

a
A jack tar paled, said: when we sailed
thought We left the Doc"
New York World.
The natural heat of a mans blood is
1874. That of a bird averages about
1o1. which is the temperature Of the
domestic fowl.
For this reason many people suppose
that birds do not suffer from the cold
OF winter. being also protected by their
tnlck coat of feathers. But they do
Birds and all the woodland folk feel
cold. and a hard frost causes severe
suffering.
Birds are quite clever about seeking
shelter from the bite of frosty night.
Run a bat fowling net across the side
of hayrick. You will be amazed at
the extraordinary number and variety
OF small birds which come fiuttering out
SO soon as the lantern light strikes
upon the rick side. Not only sparrows
but chaft1nches, greenfinches, buntings,
and warblers are caught in this way.
Sparrows huddle together in tightly
packed masses. With them it is any
port in a storm or a frost, and seven
were once found, all in a feathery heap,
dead, in a hole in the brickwork behind
greenhouse furnace. In some way
fumes had leaked through the inter-
St1ceS of the masonry from the chimney
behind and SuffOcated the whole lot.
Thick ivy is a favorite roosting place
in cold weather. OF course, there are
always plenty of birds who spend the
night in ivy, but in a heavy frost the
number doubles or trebles.
1S94-5 was our last really severe win
ter. In February, 1895, Herefordshire
farmer, visiting his outhouses one night
when the mercury lay somewhere below
the 20 mark, found a number of small
birds, chaffinches and sparrows, he
thinks, roosting in the cow shed, some
actually snuggled down in the straw
close beside the big warm animals.
Any South Downs shepherd can tell
you that chaffinches and greenfinches
will spend cold nights nesting in the
wool of the penned sheep. This is rath-
er a dangerous proceeding for the poor
little chaps, for very often they get
their claws tangled in the wool, and
when morning arrives are unable to fly.
If no one comes to their help they
StarVe to death.
Blackbirds take refuge in low, close
growing evergreens, and even occasion
been found sheltering in rabbit burrows
in very severe weather. The risk from
weasels or stoats must be consider
able.
What was perhaps the oldest artifice
ever noticed on the part of a bird in
search of warmth was practiced by a
robin. A gentleman shooting in War
wickshire covert on very cold day
had just killed a rabbit and was walk
ing to pick 1t up when he saw a robin
fly down from a tree and settle upon
the dead animal, crouching close to its
still warm flesh.
Afterward, when number of rabbits
were shot and laid under hedge, the
robin remained among them all the
time the sportsman was eating his
lunch.
Squirrels put on a thicker coat in
winter This is duller in color than the
summer garb. Their tails also increase
vastly in business. This means a lot
in the way of warmth, for a squirrels
tail is not only his rudder, but his
comforter and blanket also.
Hedgehogs burrow deep into the
leaves and debris, in the roots of thick
hedges and hibernate there. In the
curious, trance-lik state which we call
Information an animal feels no cold at
all.
The dormouse also hibernates, sleep
ing snugly in a cosy little nest made
of interviewer grass stalks.-Pearson'
Weekly.