Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . into, a profound slumber. It will be seen thatthis hybernation differs from that in which the animals immediatelyfall asleep, and either continue torpid during the whole of the coldseason, or awake occasionally to partake of food. There is a longunderground preparation for the winter sleep, during which a con-siderable quantity of food is needed. Hen
Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . into, a profound slumber. It will be seen thatthis hybernation differs from that in which the animals immediatelyfall asleep, and either continue torpid during the whole of the coldseason, or awake occasionally to partake of food. There is a longunderground preparation for the winter sleep, during which a con-siderable quantity of food is needed. Hence it is that the animal isprovided with these ample pouches, which act as panniers for theconveyance of its winter food to the place into which it retires. Thefur of the hamster is valuable; and the peasant who goes a hamsterhunting obtains not only the skin of the animal, but his hoard, whichamounts to as much as two bushels of grain to each magazine. 373. Why do lemmings migrate from their settlements? Because they multiply so rapidly that they experiencea deficiency of vegetable food. They therefore set offin large bodies in search of new grounds adapted to theirhabitations, and there they found new colonies. In this * Mus bar 120 KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. It is not iron bands, nor hundred eyes,Nor brazen walls, nor many wakeful skyes,That can withhold their wilfull wandering feet.—Spenser. * we see a more striking illustration of the instinct whichprompts rats to quit an uninhabited house, and to abandonan unseaworthy ship. 374. Lemmings are allied to the rat tribes. There ^ are m severalspecies of them, varying in size andcolor, according to the regions they in-habit. They are found in Norway, Lap-land, Siberia, and the northern parts ofAmerica; those of Norway being nearlythe size of the water-rat, and of a tawnycolor, variegated with black, {he sidesof the head and the under parts being?Apr white; while those of Lapland and Si-*if**iC*sr^Z^ ^^V^Sii^y beri
Size: 2119px × 1180px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1916
