316 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



five in the morning ; and, traversing the garden, examines 

 every wicket and interstice in the fences, through which 

 he will escape if possible ; and often has eluded the care 

 of the gardener, and wandered to some distant field. Th e 

 motives that impel him to undertake these rambles seem 

 to be of the amorous kind ; his fancy then becomes intent 

 on sexual attachments, which transports him beyond his 

 usual gravity, and induce him to forget for a time his 

 ordinary solemn deportment. 



