( Uo ) 



torpid, tv^lien the atmofphere is cool, and fleep during winter 5 

 though often, if the feafon be mild, and the cold abated, they re-» 

 vive, and are found active and vigorous, even in winter. Exr? 

 treme cold converts their torpidity into death. They lofe fcarce 

 any of their weight during their torpid ftate; on their recoverv-^ 

 their external covering ufually changes, and till their new attire is 

 fufficiently hardened, they are greatly concealed, and folicitous of 

 avoiding the rifque of accidents. They are often found in troops; but 

 their aflembling is not the refult of focial, but of individual intereft. 

 They are in general very prolific, and often the largeft kinds, efpe- 

 cially, in which they contradidt the rule adopted in refped: to vivi- 

 parous quadrupeds. Their eggs are never hatched by the parent j 

 but, though not left open to accidents (being hidden, &c.) yet ne- 

 glected ; and confequently the pofterity never knows its parent, nor 

 experiences the tender cares neceflary to avert or to foften the ac- 

 cidents of life. Moft of them may be tamed, crocodiles not ex- 

 cepted. In general, they have more or lefs of a mufky fcent. They 

 may be confidered as ufually very long-lived. Few of them are 

 yenomous. 



THE 



