Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
SHELTER OF ANIMALS.
Robins Protection From Cold.
Squirrels Comforter and Blanket.

Robins Protection From Cold.
Squirrels Comforter and Blanket.
From Pearson's Weekly.
The natural heat of a mans blood is
9S4. That Of bird averages about 1O7,
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
thick 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 a frosty night.
Run a bat fowling net across the side of
a hayrick. You will be amazed at the
extraordinary number and variety of
small birds which come huttering out as
soon as the lantern light strikes upon the
rick side.
Sparrows huddle together in tightly
packed masses. With them 1t is any port
in a storm or a frost, and seven were
once found. all in a feathery heap. dead
in hole in the brickwork behind a
greenhouse furnace. In some way fumes
had leaked through the interstices 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 al
ways plenty Of birds who spend the
night in ivy, but In a heavy frost the
number doubles or trebles.
The winter Of 1S94-95 was our last really
severe one. February, 1895. q Hereford
shire farmer visiting his outhouses one
night when the mercury lay somewhere
below the 20 mark, found a number Of
III q
thinks, roosting in the cow shed. some ac-
tually snuggled down in the straw close
beside the big warm animals.
Amy South Downs shepherd can tell you
spend cold nights nesting in the wool
VI the penned sheep. This is rather 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 occasionally
in holes in the ground. They have been
found sheltering In rabbit burrows in very
severe weather. The risk from weasels
or stoats must be considerable.
What was perhaps the oldest artiflce
ever noticed on the part of bird in
search of warmth wa5 practfced by a
robin. A gentleman shooting in War
wickshire covert on very cold day had
pick it up when he saw a robin fly down
from q tree and settle upon the dead
animal. crouching close to its still warm
flesh.
Afterward, when a number of rabbits
were shot and laid under a hedge, the
robin remained among them all the time
the sportsman was eating his lunch.
Squirrels put on 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.
trancelike state which We call Information
an animal feels no cold at all.
The dormouse also hibernates, sleeping
snugly in cosy little nest made of in
terwoven grass stalks.