A NATURALIST. 39 



neighbouring fields, and by its superficial situation, irre- 

 gularity, and frequent openings, showed that its purpose 

 was temporary, or had been only opened for the sake of 

 procuring food. Occasionally I found a little gallery di- 

 verging from the main route beneath the fence, towards 

 the road, and finally opening on the grass, as if the in- 

 mate had come out in the morning to breathe the early 

 air, or to drink of the crystal dew which daily gemmed 

 the close cropped verdure. How I longed to detect the 

 animal which tenanted these galleries, in the performance 

 of his labours ! Farther on, upon the top of a high bank, 

 which prevented the pathway from continuing near the 

 fence, appeared another evidence of the industry of my 

 yet unknown miner. Half a dozen hillocks of loose, al- 

 most pulverised earth were thrown up, at irregular dis- 

 tances, communicating with the main gallery by side 

 passages. Opening one of these carefully, it appeared to 

 differ little from the common gallery in size, but it was 

 very difficult to ascertain where the loose earth came 

 from, nor have I ever been able to tell, since I never wit- 

 nessed the formation of these hillocks, and conjectures 

 are forbidden, where nothing but observation is requisite 

 to the decision. My farther progress was now inter- 

 rupted by a delightful brook which sparkled across the 

 road over a clear sandy bed ; and here my little galleries 

 turned into the field, coursing along at a moderate dis- 

 tance from the stream. I crept through the fence into 

 the meadow on the west side, intending to discover, if pos- 



