Night Creatures [antikvár]

^ he mournful howling of wolves, the hooting of owls, the eerie scream of a panther-the sounds of the night have long sent shivers through humankind. As creatures of the day, we have come to associate darkness with death and evil. Yet for a surprising number of life forms, including most mammals, "the dead of night" is very much alive. Each day, as the sun sets and diurnal animals retreat to their burrows, caves, or electrically lit houses, night creatures venture out from their hiding places. Under cover of darkness, they feed, fmd mates, and defend their territories; they remain alert for predators and care for their young. Animals that are mainly active at night have chosen the darkness for various reasons. In some cases, it is the best time for them to hunt or to avoid predators. Other creatures adapt to the night to exploit a niche already taken by day. Thus an owl assumes the role of the diurnal hawk, bats take over where birds leave off, and moths emerge when butterflies have retired. Specialized environments also influence behavior. Many desert dwellers escape the heat by confining their activity to the cool of night, while cave dwellers and burrowing animals adapt to the black world found underground. At the earth's poles, wildlife adjusts to alternating seasons of night and day. Clutching a meal for its chicks, a barn owl, Tyto alba, approaches its nest in a bell tower. Mice, frogs, and other small prey make up the bulk of its diet.