Scientific American Supplement, No. 324, March 18, 1882Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 324, March 18, 1882
Various
Science -- Periodicals
The writer has a cherry-stone in which is coiled up an insect, best
known as the sowbug. A squirrel had probably eaten out the meat and
opened the way, and in this snug retreat we found the little hibernater
snugly rolled up, as is also its habit when alarmed. The mouth of the
hole was stopped by black soil, but whether from accident or by the
animal itself we could not tell.
Some fishes and reptiles are hibernaters. Frogs and toads sleep out the
winter at the bottom of ponds or in holes in the ground. Tree toads, if
kept in a cage in the winter and provided with soil, will endeavor to
cover themselves with it, showing how strong the instinct or habit
is. Some fishes are so insensible to heat or cold that when in this
condition they can be frozen and carried for a number of days and then
be brought back to an active condition. The pond snail passes into a
winter sleep as soon as the temperature of the water is below 14° Cent.,
that is, they will not digest food or grow until the temperature of the
water is at least up to 15° Cent. Those who have watched the Harlem
River from McComb's Dam Bridge cannot have failed to notice the curious
appearance of the muddy shores of the river and creeks at low tide.
If the sun shines brightly, the dismal beach seems to quiver and
scintillate in a most beautiful manner, reflecting the light like so
many diamonds. If we draw nearer, this shore is seen to be entirely
covered in places with little snails, that, left by the tide, are
forging through the mud to regain the water, and the sunlight striking
on them is reflected by the glass-like secretion with which they are
covered, producing the curious effect noticed. This could be seen in the
warm months, but now, not a snail of the countless millions can be seen.
They have gone down in search of "hard-pan," there to hibernate until
next April. The land snail (_Helix pomatia_) sleeps four months during
the year, and does not throw off the calcareous lid that protects it
during this time until the day temperature has reached 12° Cent. Prairie
dogs feel the effect of temperature as low as this.
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