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Hibernating mammals

1884; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: ns-3; Issue: 68 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.ns-3.68.616

1095-9203

C. H. MERRIAM,

Bat Biology and Ecology Studies

H i b e r n a t i ~~g mammals.All article on liibrrnating mammals, by Dr. C. C. Abbott, i n Science, No. 05, contains several statements tlie correctness of whicll I arii inclined to challenge.For example : Dr. Abbott says, " Of the thirty or more rnammals found hcre [central Nem Jersey], thirteen species are supposed to be hibernating animals.These are four species of bats, two of moles, three squirrels, one ground sclnirrel, one marmot, one jurnp~ng-mouse, and one Hesperomys."If i t is true that the red sqnirrel, 'two moles,' and 'one Hespero~nys' hibernate in tlie latitude of central N e ~v Jersey, the fact is sufficiently interesting and important to merit a detailed account of the evidence upon which an arinouilcement seemingly so evtraordi~iary and improbable is based.Further on, the doctor states that tlie common starnosed moles "form cornmodio~~s nests, placing a good deal of fine grass in them.H e ~e , indifferent to freshets, they remain all wiuter, anti, as they can lay up no food.sleep, I suppose, throng11 the elltire seasori.The facl that these moles are unaffected by being snbrnergeil during the spring freshets is an interesting fact."Here, it will be observed, tlie author not only asserts tliat the star-nosecl moles 'remaill all winter' in their nests; but, without adducing a single fact in proof, he even goes so far as to assume that they are 'submeiged -during tlie spring freshets,' and goes on to say, " 1 think that the aiiirnals must have been thoroughly soal;ed for from forly-eight to seventy-two hour,, t l ~e ortlinary duration of the high water."T o n , it is a vet y easy matter for these senuaquatic animals to betake theinsel%es to higher ground wlle11 driven froni their usual haunts by freshets;