1782. NORFOLK. 327 



operation. Having tried the texture of the 124. 

 leaf, and its fitnefs for her purpofe (by piercing TENTHREDO 

 it repeatedly with the point of her inftrument), THE TURNEP- 

 and having chcfl-n fome convenient part on its 

 edge (the choice of which feems frequently to 

 puzzle her), the female adjufts hcrfclf for the 

 operation, by placing one, two, or three of her 

 feet on the upper, and the reft on the under, 

 fide of the leaf ; but always clafping it with 

 her hindmoft legs, without which fhe cannot, 

 with any degree of conveniency, perform the 

 act. Having taken her Hand, fhe begins to 

 feel for the middle of the edge of the leaf, 

 which fhe finds by the help of her fheath, 

 placing one of its valves on one fide, and the 

 other on the oppofite fide ; by which means 

 the point of her inftrument eafily hits the mid- 

 die way. She then fplits the edge of the leaf, 

 and having made a lhallow fiflurc about twice 

 the breadth of her inftrument, fhe begins to 

 infinuate this downward, into the margin of 

 the leaf; not in a line perpendicular to the 

 edge, but obliquely backward ; feldom making 

 an angle of more than 458. with the line of 

 the edge, and frequently of lefs than 20?. 

 running it almoft parallel with it. Having got 

 the inftrument to near its fulleft depth, fhe 

 Y 4 begins 



