A Biological Clock
Every living thing has what scientists call a biological clock that controls behavior. The biological clock tells _plants_ when to form flowers and when the flowers should open. It tells _insects_ when to leave the protective cocoons and fly away,and it tells animals and human beings when to eat, sleep and wake.
Events outside the plant and animal _affect_ the actions of some biological clocks. Scientists recently found, for example, that a tiny animal changes the color of its fur _because of _ the number of hours of daylight. In the short _days_ of winter, its fur becomes white. The fur becomes gray brown in color in the longer hours of daylight in summer.
Inner signals control other biological clocks. German scientists found that some kind of internal clock seems to order birds to begin their long migration _flight_ twice each year. Birds _prevented from _ flying become restless when it is time for the trip, _but_ they become calm again when the time of the flight has ended.
Scientists say they are beginning to learn which _parts_ of the brain contain biological clocks. An American researcher, Martin Moorhead, said a small group of cells near the front of the brain _seems_ to control the timing of some of our actions. These _cells_ tell a person when to _awaken_ ,when to sleep and when to seek food . Scientists say there probably are other biological clock cells that control other body activities.