The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-16

The rabbit would Heed 40 whiskers IN
the night time IL It never stepped running,
but since it does stop and sit on its
launches, it really does need some. Fur
thermores since it runs mostly in the even
ing and at night Il needs some white and
some black Whiskers. white Whisker on
a dark background Is more effective than
black whisksF would be.
When the rabbit Is IN the sitting pos
tufo is head Is quite differently inclined
than while Il is running or lying. The nose
Il now considerably higher than the eyes
and consequently owing 10 this position Of
the head me white ends Of some long half
black and half white WhiskeFs, which are
rooted so low down under the nose that
they serve the animal no purpose as it lies
IN lts bed, tall between the eyes and the
dark objects on the earth.
IT Is interesting to note that the outer or
white ends % the rabbits whiskers fan
between the eyes and the more distant OBJ
iscts while the inner or black ends OBJ
strhet the vision for closer objects. Thus
the black diuFnal whiskers are converted
into nocturnal ones by being thrown be-
tween the eyes and the horizon, and the
white or n0otufhal Whiskers, which were
of no use TO the animal during the day, lie
IN the most useful position at night. The
rabbits long ears also serve TIE purpose
OF reliefing and assisting vision.
The professor, By the way, does not ex-
plain Why black cats have black Whiskers
and gray cats gray whiskers.
The opossum, he teels US, sleeps during
the day in secluded places, usually in tree
cavities or in deserted nests of other arbo-
real animals. In the night time 1t walks
or trots steadily over the earth. It .here-
fore has two sets Of whiskers, some white
ones which fall between the eyes and the
dark objects 1t moves over, and some black
ones which lie between the eyes and the
higher objects which are surrounded by
the light sky.
Birds, like owls, which are clever at
eatehing live prey usually have whiskers
0regarious birds such as partridges. usu-
ally have no Whiskers or feathers taking
their place, because with their companions
huttering about them they are not needed
% assist the vision
Some WhisksFless birds, such as ducks
nod the head quite frequently, presumably
to relieve sysstFain.
insects, which have compound ewes. usu-
ally possess prominent antennae, which
continually move before the eyes. Any
body who has watched a cockroach stand
Ing on the edge Of the sugar-bowl and
waving its @feelers" about can confirm this
statement. The harlequin beetle, which
mas TOUR enormous antenRae longer than
its body, appears to have a very compli-
Gated method Of interrupting vision In or
to assist the vision.
Those invertebrates, such as spiders,
which have the insect type of eyes, but no
AutCnhaey often raise the body spasmodf-
eaily or else move It Irom side to side.
Creeping animals. including the snakes.
often thrust the tongue out Of the mouth
and between the eyes and objects looked
at
Many reptiles lie quiet for long periods
Of time, and then raise and lower tj.s body
or nod the head spasmodically. This has
been noticed In many OF the lizards.
Some aquatic animals, inclu1iag the sal
amandsrs, which have no eye appendages,
rcck the body By lifting first one side ana
then the other.
Even the least pertinent OF these facts
support the theory that an animal Ia orler
to use its eyes efficiently must either have
whiskers to relieve the strain or shift the
body or achieve the same purpose IN some
ether way.