ANIMALS AND TEMPERATURE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 47, 18 June 1915, Page 8

ANIMALS AND TEMPERATURE.

Animals are not so easily acclimated as most people think. For instance, a monkey, uswl to living in the trees in the shade, if exposed to the ho> tropical sun, will die within three kaurs. A rabbit will be acted on in the same way. It has been shown that these particular animals have not developed a sufficient supply of perspiration glands. An animal with a plentiful supply of these glands can stand almost anything in tlio way of heat; for the evaporation ol perspiration has an enormous cooling effect. Therefore animals used ta living in trees or in the shade, not having the glands, cannot stand tropical heat. Another peculiarity is that animals acclimated to tropical heat always have dark or reflecting skins. All animals domesticated in the tropics that did not have them before have acquired dark skins. > Black skins absorb more heai tlutn white skins, and it would therefore seem to be the wrong colour for the tropics. Rut the absorption of heat by tlio black skin produced excessive perspiration, and consequent cooling by eTaporation; so it is really a blessing. A reflecting .skin would not absorb much of the heat rays. Such a skin is like a mirrar, and is possessed by sleek animals. Blaek skins, while they absorb lieob more quickly than whit", also lose If, more quicklv when the animal getn in the shade* As a matter of fact, nearly all dark-skinned animals of the tropin hide during the daytime and come iorth only at night, simply because at their black skin. Animals in general ran not easily adapt themselves to a new climate; but it has been proved that man caa adapt himself to any climate, whether his immediate ancestors wer« ever subjected to it or not. The reason is in the wonderful heat regulation of the liuman body. When a man is hot in the summertime and needs cooling h<? perspiie* freely, and the sweat evaporate# and cools him. Wlu n lie gets cold the pot e>s close up and do not let the sweat come out and cool him. This regulation I* minute and involuntary, and w »n the job every minute of the day. A man can go naked in the snow and not suffer much discomfort. The pores el one up into tight knots (eoose-flesh), and thus have the body co\.iv,l with e «K'n almost air-tight.

"(ioo.?nw LC»':ti mother. "Wlint is !>;il>y cyiag for now''" "I'm fiirr 1 ilon't know,' answered Ftliol, ,vns on,T to * in K lo nnke liim Muilr uiili the glo\o-streti-lier."