36 



observes, in respect of that odd circumstance, casting 

 their skins 3 they do this every fortnight or three weeks. 

 A day or two before the change, the animal appears 

 more sluggish than usual, and takes no notice of its 

 food, which at other times it devours greedily. The 

 skin in some parts appears loose, and not of so lively 

 a colour as before. It begins this work, by loosening 

 with its fore-feet, the skin about its jaws, pushing 

 it forward gently and gradually, both above and 

 below the head,till it can slip out first one leg and then, 

 the other. Then it thrusts the skin backward as far 

 as those legs can reach. Next it rubs itself against 

 pebbles, gravel, or whatever else it can meet with, 

 till more than half the body is freed from the skin, 

 which then appears doubled back, covering the hinder 

 part of the body and tail. Then turning 'its head 

 round to meet its tail, it takes hold of the skin with 

 its mouth, and setting his feet thereon, by degrees pulls 

 it off, drawing the hind-legs out, as it did the fore- 

 legs. If you then examine the skin it will be found 

 inside outward, but without the least hole or breach, 

 the part which covered the hind legs seeming like 

 gloves turned inside out, though entirely perfect and 

 Unbroken . They do not however put off the cover- 

 ings of their eyes, asmost^kinds of snakes do, far the 

 skin of the Newt has always two holes, at the places 

 where the eyes have been. When the skin is off, if it 

 be not soon taken away, the creature swallows it whole. 

 Many creatures of very different kinds, put off 

 their skins or shells at certain periods, and if we may 

 guess at other shell fih by the fresh water shrimps, 

 their shells are put off without any breach but one, 

 lengthways in the middle of the belly part, through 

 which the body, tail, and claws are pulled out, and 

 ihe shell left in a manner whole. In the insect tribe 

 the changes of caterpillars are well known. The spi- 

 der throws off its skin as' frequently, getting out of 

 it by a rupture underneath, 'and leaving every claw 

 entire. And even the horny covering of his forceps.. 



