A NATURALIST. 41 



situation, irregularity, and frequent openings, showed 

 that its purpose was temporary, or had been only 

 opened for the sake of procuring food. Occasion- 

 ally I found a little gallery diverging from the main 

 route beneath the fence, towards the road, and finally 

 opening on the grass, as if the inmate 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, almost pulverised earth were thrown 

 up, at irregular distances, communicating with the 

 main gallery by side passages. Opening one of these 

 carefully, it appeared to differ little from the com- 

 mon gallery in size, but it was very difficult to ascer- 

 tain where the loose earth came from, nor have I 

 ever been able to tell, since I never witnessed the 

 formation of these hillocks, and conjectures are for- 

 bidden, where nothing but observation is requisite 

 to the decision. My farther progress was now in- 

 terrupted 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 distance from the stream. I 

 crept through the fence into the meadow on the 

 west side, intending to discover, if possible, the 



animal whose works had first fixed my attention, 

 4* 



