LECTURE VII. t3 



cart, yet does it discover as much solicitude about 

 rain as a lady dressed in all her best attire, 

 shuffling away on the first sprinklings, and running 

 its head up in a corner. If attended to, it be- 

 comes 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 before night. It is totally a diurnal ani- 

 mal, and never pretends to stir after it becomes 

 dark." 



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

 reptiles, 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 5 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 awkward alacrity; but re- 

 mains inattentive to strangers. Thus, not only 

 " the Ox knaweth his ozvner, 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 gratitude. This 

 creature not only goes under the earth from the 

 middle of November to the middle of April, but 



