346 
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parts, thirty, forty, or fifty tubes sometimes lying 
■within a very small distance of each other. In 
defect of rose-leaves the cavities are sometimes 
lined with the leaves of elm, &c. &c. 
A species very nearly allied to the preceding 
pursues a similar plan of forming a continued 
series of cylindrical nests with rose or other leaves, 
rolling them in such a manner as to resemble so 
many thimbles, the top of each being closed as 
before. Instead however of being placed in the 
timber of trees, they are laid in horizontal trains 
at a certain distance beneath the surface of the 
ground. Monsh Reaumur, who describes this 
species and its nest, relates a very diverting in- 
stance of popular ignorance and superstition at 
that period in France. In the beginning of July 
1736, the learned Abbe Nollet, then at Paris, was 
surprised by a visit from an Auditor of the Cham- 
ber of Accounts, whose estate lay at a distant 
village on the borders of the Seine, a few leagues 
from Rouen. This gentleman came accompanied, 
among other domestics, by a gardener, whose 
face had an air of much concern. lie had come 
to Paris in consequence of having found in his 
master’s grounds many rows of leaves, unaccount- 
ably disposed in a mystical manner, and which he 
could not but believe were there placed by witch- 
craft, for the secret destruction of his lord and 
family, lie had, after recovering from his lirst 
consternation, shewn tliem to the Cure of the 
parish, who was inclined to be of a similar o])inion, 
and adviscil him without delay to take a journey to 
