HOUSE-MARTINS. 229 



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 rep- 

 tile that appears 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 profoundest 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 after- 

 noon. This was a curious coincidence ! a very amusing occur- 

 rence ! to see such a similarity of feelings between the two 

 0f>6ocoi! 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. 



LETTER LI. To THE HON. DAINES HARRINGTON. 



Selborne, Sept. 3, 1781. 



I HAVE now read your miscellanies through with much care and 

 satisfaction; and am to return you my best thanks for the 

 honourable mention made in them of me as a naturalist, which 

 I wish I may deserve. 



In some former letters I expressed my suspicions that many 

 of the house-martins do not depart in the winter far from this 

 village. I therefore determined to make some search about the 

 south-east end of the hill, where I imagined they might slumber 

 out the uncomfortable months of winter. But supposing that 

 the examination would be made to the best advantage in the 

 spring, and observing that no martins had appeared by the 1-1 th 

 of April last ; on that day I employed some men to explore the 

 shrubs and cavities of the suspected spot. The persons took 

 pains, but without any success ; however, a remarkable incident 

 occurred in the midst of our pursuit while the labourers were 



