Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-24
HIBERNATlON.
Differences In This Somnolent
State.

Differences In This Somnolent
State.
Not only does the alternating sleep
of animals differ greatly from the or
dinary sleep of repose, but there are
many variations of the degree of torpor
into which they sink. Some seem 10
slumber normally, while in the case
Of others there is a suspended anima-
ton which it is almost impossible to
distinguish from death.
In the popular mind winter is the
only season in which animals hiber-
nate, but this is an error. In dry coun-
survive the long season Of droughts
only by Information, or, more properly
speaking, by estivation, the latter be-
ing the term applied to this condition
when it occurs in summer.
Even in cold countries many animals
begin their winter sleep before winter
comes, which shows that the condition
is not induced by cold, nor by lack of
food, for the great bat begins to sleep
sometimes as early as the end of July.
when its insect food is still very plen-
tiful.
Submerged in water Of temperature
slightly higher than his own, the
hedgehog not only continues to live, but
appears to suffer neither inconvenience
nor harm. Enclosed in an air-tight
receptacle. his atmosphere undergoes a
change so slight that it cannot be inn
puted to breathing. AS respiration
diminishes the irritability Of the mus
cles of the heart increases, and thus,
without the. stimulus of oxygen, al
though much more slowly, the heart
continues to beat. In the absence OF
the fresh air drawn into the lungs In
times of activity uncleansed and unre-
vigorated and venous blood passes on
to fill the whole system of circulation.
In Information the waste is very small.
The fat accumulated during the plenty
of summer and autumn supplies all ex-
penditure until the coming Of spring,
when, earlier or later, the alternating
animal, having no capital in reserve,
begins to suffer the pangs of hunger.
In response to the demand, respiration
very slowly increases. His oxidized
blood flows more quickly, and his ener-
gy returns.
Then the bat flies forth once more
from the hollow tree in the wood to
find the warm dusk teeming with in
sect life, and the hedgehog comes. 1t
may he from the cavity under the
gnarled roots below. to find beetles.
worms and slugs once more among the
spring grass.
The hiding place must be secret and
free from intrusion, for the alternating
animal cannot bear to be suddenly
aroused. Even the little dormouse,
which comes out at intervals to feed,
does not survive too hasty an awaken
ing. The heat of the hand gradually
Passing through the nest or the warmer
temperature Of a room Is enough.
Then he awakes refreshed. full Of ac-
tivity, and with a disposition speedily
to become tame and make friends.
But if you warm him suddenly back 10
life before he has gradually breathed
the torpOr out of his blood and estab-
lished an equilibrium between his res
piration and muscular irritability, his
heart will beat at tremendous rate
and in few minutes he will be dead.
Some animals hibernate in solitude,
while others are very sociable In their
winter arrangements, notably the
skunks and raccoons. Bears are mo-
rose and solitary beasts, and keep to
themselves.
The woodchuck sleeps soundly
enough to make even the Seven Sleep
ers appear like victims of insomnia.
and he thus makes up for all the other
creatures who are light sleepers. Tame
woodchucks that have been stored In
barrels in barn or cellar to pass the
winter have been taken up and carried
miles in the arms of their youthful
masters without their nap being in the
least disturbed
In early winter a fat woodchuck may
be placed near a fire for half an hour
without it's making the slightest APP
parent change in his condition. He Is
a disagreeable little beast, however, If
rubbed and warmed until thoroughly
awake during the alternating season.
Of n
bernation is reduced very nearly to
that of the air. but 1t returns quickly
to the normal when the sleep is over.
The loss in weight is from 80 to 40 per
cent.
Reptiles, amphibians and some fishes
hibernate, as we'll as some insects. The
land reptiles bury themselves below
the frost line and wait for spring, or
crawl into the crevices between rocks,
snakes sometimes passing the winter
wrapped in a tangled mass composed
of a number of their species. Frogs
bury themselves in the mud at the bot
tom of ponds and if dug up and placed
in water will swim away, though their
movements are sluggish.
There are several varieties Of but
terfes that hibernate, and one of the
strangest of natures problems is how
it is possible for a creature so fragile
sand delicate as the gnat to endure, for
many weeks and even months, the cold
and frost of winter. 1t will come out
to dance in the sunshine when there is
a bright day and return to its hiding
place when hard times come again.
Harper's Weekly.