are not true hibernators. They spend
most of the winter asleep, but their body
temperature barely drops. A bear will
move around if woken up. Also, females
give birth and nurse during this time.
Other Forms of Hibernation
Only certain mammals are true hibernators.
But other kinds of animals do
something similar. Many reptiles and
amphibians of mild climates become
inactive in winter. Frogs and toads rest
in holes or in mud at pond bottoms.
Snakes may crowd together in caves.
Many insects and spiders are frozen solid
during the winter.
#More to explore
Amphibian • Animal • Mammal
• Reptile
Hickory
Hickory is the name of a group of similar
trees, all belonging to the walnut
family. More than 15 different species,
or types, of hickory grow in eastern
North America. Three species grow in
eastern Asia. Some of the best-known
hickories are shagbark, shellbark, mockernut,
and pecan.
Most hickories grow to about 100 feet
(30 meters) tall. They have a long taproot,
or main root that grows downward.
Hickories have compound leaves,
A small mammal called a dormouse hibernates
in its nest.
In zoos, many
animals that
normally
hibernate stay
active during
the winter
because of
noise and
light.
50 Hickory BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
or leaves made up of several parts called
leaflets.
Hickory flowers have no petals. The
flowers grow either in spikes or in long,
thin clusters called catkins. The fruit has
a fleshy husk with a hard pit inside. The
pit contains the fruit’s seed, which is
commonly called a nut.
Many types of animals eat the nuts of
hickories. People also eat hickory nuts,
especially pecans. People grow pecan
trees for their nuts and for their lightcolored
wood. They use hickory wood
for fuel, tools, furniture, and flooring.
Hickory trees have a place in U.S. history.
Native Americans ground hickory
nuts into flour for making bread. They
also used hickory-nut oil for cooking.
Pioneers used the trees’ wood to make
ax handles, wagon wheels, and axles.
They burned hickory in their woodstoves,
both for cooking and for keeping
warm. They enjoyed the flavor of
hickory-smoked meats, just as many
people do today.
#More to explore
Nut • Tree
Hidalgo y
Costilla, Miguel
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is known as
the Father of Mexican Independence. In
the early 1800s he led a major uprising
against Spain, which then ruled Mexico.
Early Life
Hidalgo was born on May 8, 1753, near
Guanajuato, Mexico, northwest of
The shagbark hickory grows in
the eastern half of the United
States. It grows very slowly. It
takes 200 to 300 years to grow
to 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30
meters) tall.
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Hidalgo y Costilla, Miguel 51
Mexico City. He earned a degree in theology,
or religion. In 1778 he became a
Roman Catholic priest.
Father Hidalgo worked as a priest in the
town of Dolores. He worked to improve
the lives of the people there. He taught
them new farming techniques. He also
helped them to start pottery and brickmaking
businesses.
Fight for Independence
In 1808 France invaded Spain. The
French forced the Spanish king to step
down. These events encouraged many
poor Mexicans to begin fighting for
independence from Spain. Spanish soldiers
fought back fiercely. They
destroyed many Mexican farmlands.
Moved by the problems of his people,
Father Hidalgo joined the fight for independence.
On September 16, 1810, he
rang a church bell and called the people
to revolt against Spain. His call became
known as the Grito de Dolores (the cry
of Dolores). Thousands of Mexicans
joined Hidalgo to march against the
Spanish.
Hidalgo and his army of rebels won a
number of battles. In the end, however,
the Spanish defeated them. The Spanish
captured Hidalgo on March 21, 1811.
On July 31 they put him to death for
being a traitor.
Ten years later Mexico finally won its
independence from Spain. But Mexicans
did not forget that Hidalgo had started
it all. Mexico still celebrates its Independence
Day on September 16—the date
of Hidalgo’s cry for freedom.
#More to explore
Mexico
Hidatsa
The Hidatsa are Native Americans of
North Dakota. They have lived along
the Missouri River for hundreds of
years. Early European traders mistakenly
thought that the Hidatsa were related to
the Gros Ventre people. The traders used
the name Gros Ventre for the Hidatsa as
well. The Hidatsa are still sometimes
called the Gros Ventre of the Missouri.
The Hidatsa traditionally lived in domeshaped
homes called lodges. They built
their lodges by covering a wood frame
with dirt. The Hidatsa grew corn,
squash, and beans. They also hunted
bison (buffalo) on horseback.
Every Mexican
Independence
Day, the
Mexican president
shouts a
version of
Hidalgo’s
Grito from the
balcony of the
National
Palace.
The Hidatsa wore clothing made from bison
skins. The clothing was usually decorated
with paint.
52 Hidatsa BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
By the late 1700s French and English
traders were visiting the Hidatsa. The
tribe’s villages became a major trading
center. The Hidatsa gave the Europeans
horses, animal hides, and coats and
blankets made from bison skins. In
return they received guns, knives, and
other goods.
