NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Cursory remarks. 



joints. When the horns and head are excluded, 

 the two fore-feet follow, which they move with 

 equal agility; after this follow the middle feet, 

 and then the hinder: still, however, the young 

 one continues sticking to its parent, supported 

 only at one extremity, and hanging, as it were, 

 in air, until its small and soft members become 

 hardened and fitted for self-support. The pa- 

 rent then gets rid of its burthen, by moving from 

 the place where she was sitting, and forcing the 

 young one to t.tand upon its legs, leaves it to 

 shift for itself. As the animal has not far to go, 

 its provision lying beneath it, during the summer 

 it continues to eat and creep about with great 

 agility. But as it is viviparous, and must neces- 

 sarily lurk somewhere in winter, where its body 

 mav be defended from the cold.it endeavours to 



9 



secure a retreat near the trees or plants that 

 serve to nourish it in the beginning of spring. 

 They never hide themselves in the earth, like 

 many other insects, because they have no part 

 of their bodies fitted to remove the earth ; nor 

 can they creep into every chink, as their legs are 

 too long; besides, their bodies are so tender, that 

 the least rough particle of the earth would hurt 

 them. They therefore get into the deep chinks 

 of the bark, and into the cavities of the stronger 

 stalks, whence they sally out upon the branches 

 and leaves, when the warmth of the sun begins 

 to be felt. Neither the cold in the autumnal 

 season, nor the lesser degree of heat in the spring, 



