COMMON TORTOISE. 15 



an excellent weather-glass, for as sure as it walks 

 elate, and, as it were on tip-toe, feeding with great 

 earnestness, in a morning, so sure will it rain be- 

 fore night. It is totally a diurnal animal, and 

 never pretends to stir after it becomes dark." 



" The Tortoise," adds Mr. W. " like other rep- 

 tiles, has an arbitrary stomach, as well as lungs, 

 and can refrain from eating, as well as breathing, 

 for a great part of the year. I was much taken with 

 its sagacity, in discerning those that do it kind 

 offices ; for as soon as the good old lady comes 

 in sight who has waited on it for more than thirty 

 years, it hobbles towards its benefactress with awk- 

 ward alacrity ; but remains inattentive to strang- 

 ers. Thus, not only " the O.v knoweth his owner, 

 and the Ass his master's crib, " but the most abject 

 and torpid of beings distinguishes the hand that 

 feeds it, and is touched with the feelings of grati- 

 tude. This creature not onlv 2'oes under the earth 



V O 



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 af- 

 ternoon, 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 that Providence should bestow 

 such a seeming waste of longevity on a reptile 

 that appears to relish it so little as to squander awav 

 more than two thirds of its existence in a joyless 

 stupor, and be lost to all sensation for months to- 

 gether in the profoundest of all slumbers ! Though 

 he loves warm weather, he avoids the hot sun ; be- 



