Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 146, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1910 — SLEEP OF HIBERNATION. [ARTICLE]

SLEEP OF HIBERNATION.

Different from Ordinary Repose and Near Complete Insensibility. The sleep of hibernation is a very different matter from the sleep of repose. If It be complete, respiration can no longer be detected. A torpid bat when disturbed will heave a sigh or two and, being left alone, again to all appearances cease to breathe. Submerged J.n water of a temperature slightly higher than his own, the hedgehog not only continues to live, but appears to suffer neither Inconvenience nor harm. Inclosed in an airtight receptacle his atmosphere undergoes a change so slight that It affects hkn slightly, If at all. But circulation does not cease. Harper’s Weekly says. As respiration diminishes, the Irritability of the muscles of the heart increases; and thus, wtlhout the stimulation of oxygen, although much more Blowly, the heart continues to beat. In the absence of the fresh air drawn into the lungs In times of activity, uncleansed and unrevigorated and venous blood passes on to fill the whole system of circulation; - - ' —ti . ■■ - : A profound lethargy Ensues, distinguishable from death *. only by the slight beating of the heart. The waste Is very small. The fat accumulated during the plenty of summer and autumn supplies all expenditure until the coming spring, when earlier or later the hibernating animal, having no capital In reserve, begins to suffer the pangs of hunger. In response to

th* demand respiration very slowly Increases. His oxidized blood flows more quickly and his energy returns. Then the bat flies forth ofice more from ths hollow tree in the wood to find the warm dusk teeming with in sect life and'the hedgehog comes, it may be, from 1 the cavity under the gnarled roots below, to find beetles worms and slugs once more among the spring grass. Hibernation has saved both from death by starvation, but if their nooks had not been snug and wisely chosen they would not have been preserved from death by frost. The hiding place also must be secret? and free from Intrusion, for the hibernating animal cannot bear to be suddenly roused. Even the little dormouse, which comes out at Intervals to feed, when In deep sleep must be carried indoors to the warmer tegn perature of a room or revived by the heat of the hand passing through the nest. He then wakes refreshed and full of activity. But he does not survive too hasty an awakening.