NATURAL HISTORY OF SEL BORNE. 



149 



summer it feeds voraciously, devouring all the food that comes in 

 its way. I was much taken with its sagacity in discerning those 

 that do it kind offices : for, as soon as the good old lady 

 conies in sight who has waited on it for more than thirty years, 

 it hobbles towards its benefactress with awkward alacrity ; but 

 remains inattentive to strangers. Thus not only " the 6x knoweth 

 his owner, and the ass his master's crib,"* but the most abject 

 reptile and torpid of beings distinguishes the hand that feeds 

 it, and is touched with the feelings of gratitude ! 



I am, &c. &c. 



P.S. In about three days after I left Sussex the tortoise 

 retired into the ground under the hepatica.f 



Isaiah i. 3. 



t See Letter L. to Barrington. 



