286 TORTOISE. 



mode of life, and propensities ; and perceive already, 

 that, towards the time of coming forth, it opens a 

 breathing-place in the ground near its head, requi- 

 ring, I conclude, a freer respiration as it becomes 

 more alive. This creature not only goes under the 

 earth from the middle of November to the middle of 

 April, but sleeps great part of the summer; for it 

 goes to bed, in the longest days, at four in the after- 

 noon, and often does not stir in the morning till late. 

 Besides, it retires to rest for every shower, and does 

 not move at all in wet days. 



When one reflects on the state of this strange 

 being, it is a matter of wonder, to find that Pro- 

 vidence should bestow such a profusion of days, such 

 a seeming waste of longevity, on a reptile that ap- 

 pears to relish it so little as to squander more than 

 two- thirds of its existence in a joyless stupor, and be 

 lost to all sensation for months together in the pro- 

 foundest of slumbers. 



While I was writing this letter, a moist and warm 

 afternoon, with the thermometer at 50 brought forth 

 troops of shell-snails ; and, at the same juncture, the 

 tortoise heaved up the mould and put out its head ; 

 and the next morning came forth, as it were raised 

 from the dead, and walked about till four in the 

 afternoon. This was a curious coincidence a very 

 amusing occurrence to see such a similarity of feel- 

 ings between two <f>epeoiKoi, for so the Greeks call 

 both the shell-snail and the tortoise. 



Summer birds are, this cold and backward spring, 

 unusually late : I have seen but one swallow yet. 

 This conformity with the weather convinces me more 

 and more that they sleep in the winter. 



