208 WHITE 



and impelled to make so distant and northern an excursion from 

 motives or accidents for which we are not able to account. 

 One thing may fairly be deduced, that these .birds come over 

 to us from the continent, since nobody can suppose that a 

 species not noticed once in an age, and of such a remarkable 

 make, can constantly breed unobserved in this kingdom. 



NOTE 



1 The bird referred to is the black-winged stilt, which is only an occa- 

 sional visitant in England. G. C. D. 



LETTER L 



SELBORNE, April 2\stj 1780. 



DEAR SIR, The old Sussex tortoise, that I have mentioned 

 to you so often, is become my property. I dug it out of its 

 winter dormitory in March last, when it was enough awakened 

 to express its resentments by hissing ; and, packing it in a box 

 with earth, carried it eighty miles in post-chaises. The rattle 

 and hurry of the journey so perfectly roused it that, when I 

 turned it out on a border, it walked twice down to the bottom 

 of my garden ; however, in the evening, the weather being cold, 

 it buried itself in the loose mould, and continues still concealed. 



As it will be under my eye, I shall now have an opportunity 

 of enlarging my observations on its mode of life and propen- 

 sities ; and perceive already that, towards the time of coming 

 forth, it opens a breathing place in the ground near its head, 

 requiring, 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 afternoon, 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 Providence should bestow such 

 a profusion of days, such a seeming waste of longevity, on a 

 reptile that appears to relish it so little as to squander more 



