of the Tortoise and Dormouse. 319 



tortoise at Peterborough must have been about 200 years old. 

 Bishop Marsh's predecessor in the See of Peterborough had 

 remembered it above sixty years, and could recognize no visi- 

 ble change. He was the seventh Bishop who had worn the 

 mitre during its sojourn there. If I mistake not, its susten- 

 ance and abode were provided for in this document. Its shell 

 was perforated, in order to attach it to a tree, &c. to limit its 

 ravages among the strawberry borders. 



The animal had its antipathies and predilections. It would 

 eat endive, green pease, and even the leek — while it positively 

 rejected asparagus, parsley, and spinage. In the early part 

 of the season, its favourite pabulum were the flowers of the dan- 

 delion {Leontodon taraxacum,) of which it would devour twen- 

 ty at a meal ; and lettuce (Lactuca sativa,) of the latter a good 

 sized one at a time, but if placed between lettuce and the 

 flowers of the dandelion, it would forsake the former for the 

 latter. It was also partial to the pulp of an orange, which it 

 sucked greedily. 



About the latter end of June, (discerning the times and the 

 seasons,) it looked out for fruit, when its former choice was 

 forsaken. It ate currants, raspberries, pears, apples, peaches, 

 nectarines, &c, the riper the better, but would not taste cher- 

 ries. Of fruits, however, the strawberry and gooseberry were 

 the most esteemed ; it made great havoc among the straw- 

 berry borders, and would take a pint of gooseberries at inter- 

 vals. The gardener told me it knew him well — the hand that 

 generally fed it — and would watch him attentively at the 

 gooseberry bush, where it was sure to take its station while 

 he plucked the fruit. 



I could not get it to take the root of the dandelion, nor in- 

 deed any root I offered it — as that of the carrot, turnip, &c. 

 All animal food was discarded, nor would it take anv liquid ; 

 at least neither milk nor water ; and when a leaf was moist, 

 it would shake it to expel the adhering wet. 



This animal moved with apparent ease, though pressed by 

 a weight of 18 stones; itself weighed 15} 2 ' os - J" cloudy 

 weather, it would scoop out a cavity, generally in a southern 

 exposure, where it reposed, torpid and inactive, until the ge- 

 nial influence of the sun roused it from its slumber. When 



