DOR'MANT, an epithet expressive of a state of inaction or sleep. Hence we speak of dormant animals, or such as re main several months in the year appa rently lifeless, or, at least, in utter inac tivity. The period of long sleep gener ally begins when the food of two animal grows scarce, and inactivity spreads over the vegetable kingdom. Instinct at this time impels the animals to seek a safe place for their period of rest. The bat hides itself in dark caves, or in walls of decayed buildings; the hedgehog envel ops himself in leaves, and generally con ceals himself in fern brakes; and the marmot buries himself in the ground. In this period we observe in the animals, first a decrease of animal heat ; and sec ondly, that they breathe much slower and more uninterruptedly than at other times. The digestion 13 also mneh diminished ; the stomach and intestines arc usnally empty ; and even if the animals are awakened, they do not manifest symp toms of appetite, except in heated rooms.
The causes of the dormant state of ani mals have generally been sought in a pe culiar construction of the organs; but the immediate cause producing this torpidity, is mostly, if not entirely, the cold Frogs, serpents, and lizards, kept in artificial cold, may remain for years in this state ; hence they have Wen sometimes found enclosed in stones. in which they have been perhaps for centuries. The other lower animals, as snails, insects, S:e., are also subject to a similar torpidity. A state of partial torpor takes place in the ease of the common bear, the ba.lger, and the racoon. The bear begins to be drowsy in November, when he is particularly fat, and retires into his den, which he has lined with moss, and where he but rarely awakes in winter.