Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 36.djvu/852

832 possess as much intelligence as the gray or red or some other species." From the entire account of the flying squirrel given by Prof. Perkins, I should suppose that the intelligence of this species and that of the ground squirrel are about on a par—the explanation of which will be considered later.

A question of much interest to the naturalist and psychologist, it seems to me, is the following, viz., to what extent the intelligence of animals that hibernate has been modified by this process, and in what directions. With regard to hibernation, so far as the squirrels are concerned, there seems to be great dearth of accurate observations; in fact, the same remark applies to the whole subject of hibernation, one of the most interesting in the whole realm of physiology. A number of observations are to be found scattered through the literature, but they are fatally lacking, in most cases, in precision of observation and accurate record of dates. From a short but valuable paper on "The American Chipmunk," in "The Popular Science Monthly" (vol. vii), by Dr. C. Abbott, we are led to believe that the ground squirrel spends some time in his burrow before hibernation begins, and that the food laid up is consumed in part before the winter torpor sets in, and more especially in the spring before a fresh supply is obtained in the usual way. Concerning the winter habits of other species, I have been able to learn nothing from any quarter that definitely settles the question as to whether they hibernate or not. Audubon and Bachmann (loc. cit.) state that as much as one bushel and a half of nuts has been found in a single hollow tree occupied by a chickaree or red squirrel. They also state that this species may have several hoards. From different remarks dropped by these writers, from what I have myself observed, and from the statements of Dr. R. Bell, I am inclined to the belief that the red squirrel and some other species do not regularly hibernate the whole winter through. But whether they hibernate at all, in the true sense of that term; whether they have short periods of hibernation, followed by intervals of consciousness, during which they feed; whether they remain in a condition of partial torpor, with slowing of all the vital processes, and yet not in absolute insensibility and with cessation of respiration, etc. all these questions seem to be as yet wholly undecided.

It has long been known that many cold-blooded animals hibernate and, under altered conditions, æstivate; it is further believed that among warm-blooded animals, besides bats, many rodents and some allied animals hibernate. But, when the matter is looked into carefully, it is found that the term "hibernation" has been used in a loose and very plastic sense by different authors. It is highly desirable, therefore, that writers should state exactly to what extent the animal they describe as "torpid," "