HIBERNATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 22 July 1907, Page 4

HIBERNATION.

According to a writer in the Outlook, science lias not yet exj.laim-.l satisfactorily the conditions whit-li prevail in the winter sleep of animals. It is said, for instance, that the respiration of frogs, which are buried in mud. must be caried on through the skin. But the writer las seen hybernating frogs enclosed in waled jars for 21 hours, and then found a light to burn brightly in the vessel, showing that there could Live been little or no respiration of any kind during the period. He has also seen frogs sealed in a glass jar containing no oxygen, and kept there for 48 hours, and yet revive apparently none the worse for their experienc*. ft. is often quite impossible to rouse the dormouse from its winter sleep. It may be plunged into water without being awakened, and will live for hours in varbon dioxide gas. Bats are soon drowned if placed in water in oridnary conditions, but they will survive prolonged immersion when hibernating.

I A hedgehog has Wen kept nearly hali - au-hour under water, and yet has shown no evil effects. Some of the functions of the body are active in hibernation. The animal retires fat and emerges lean.

Frogs form their eggs, and the bear produces her cubs. Muscular irritabil ity is greatly increased. The slightest touch to the quills on the spiur- of the hedgehog induces a movement <>f respiration. When the marmot is in a state of winter torpor he i-, far more sensitive to slight stimuli, sucli as blowing on his fur, than when he is merely sleeping. Some animals die if awakened suddenly from their torpor, .lu-t as the accession of torpidity is gradual under natural conditions, so must the awakening not l>e sudden. There appears to be on the alert a protective subeonsciouses, even in the "profoundest winter sleep of animals. The bat maintains a temperature a lew degrees aliove freezing point. but if 1 here is a considerable fall the animal awakens. If the temperature continues to go down the bat freezes to death. A large proportion of the creatures which hitarnate never regain consciousness with the returning spring. For them Nature is no 'ied in tooth ami claw."